Jesus’ final sign is a sneak preview of His greatest work yet to come – His resurrection. It’s tempting to see Lazarus’ being raised from the dead as equivalent to Jesus’ future resurrection, but as our Isaiah passage makes clear, the Messiah’s death and resurrection is special in that it occurs on behalf of others’ sins and not as a result of our own. For whatever else we might appreciate about Lazarus, he was still a sinner just like us and the consequence of death was reasonable. So, we should identify with Lazarus and let his reality be our hope, while remembering that hope rests fully in the Messiah – fully revealed.

Scripture References: Isaiah 53:4-6, John 11:1-45

Related Topics: Transfiguration Sunday | More Sermons from Jeffrey Schooley

From Series: "I Saw the Sign: Jesus in John's Gospel"

For this year’s season of Epiphany, we are going to look at the way John’s Gospel helps us to see who Jesus is, especially through the seven signs. Each sign, of course, reveals that Jesus is the Messiah, but in each instance that word – Messiah – grows in meaning. Then, as we come to see who Jesus is better, we will also grow to see our lives in greater purpose and detail.