When Hope Seems Gone

St. Charles  |  Bob Ingle
October 5, 2025
John 11:7-16

“So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”” John 11:6-16 (NIV)

1. Jesus Rules Over the POINT of Death.

“So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” John 11:6-8 (NIV)

“Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”” John 11:9-10 (NIV)

“A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” Job 14:5 (NIV)

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16 (NIV)

You are IMMORTAL until God’s purpose for you is COMPLETE.

2. Jesus Reframes the PERSPECTIVE of Death.

“After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.” John 11:11-13 (NIV)

-> By Softening Death’s VOCABULARY.

“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep…”

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NIV)

-> By Shattering Death’s FINALITY.

“…but I am going to wake him up.”

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” John 11:25-26 (NIV)

3. Jesus Redeems the PURPOSE of Death.

“So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” John 11:14-15 (NIV)

-> Death Can STRENGTHEN Faith

“…so that you may believe.”

-> Death Can STIR Devotion

“Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”” John 11:16 (NIV)

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Revelation 12:11 (NIV)

A faith worth LIVING for is a faith worth DYING for.