TAKE YE AWAY THE STONE- JOHN 11:39


(READ 11:1-7; 11-29; 32-46) From this text, we can learn many things about Jesus, his humanity and compassion, his faith, and his power. But I believe there is another thing of significance that we can learn about the nature Jesus and of the Godhead, and that is that God never does for man what man is capable of doing for himself.

  1. What Jesus could have done:
    1. He could have healed Lazarus prior to his death- Matthew 8:5-13 (Centurion)
    2. He could have called upon an angel to roll away the stone- Matthew 27:62-28:4 (Resurrection)
    3. He could have rolled the stone away himself- Matthew 4:3-4 (Temptation by Satan)
    4. He could have done any number of things, but he gave commandment to do what was within their power and ability to test their faith (vv 20-27, 39-41), then did for them what they could not do for themselves.
    5. God will not do for us today that which is within our power to do. Yet, God has never commanded of man that which was impossible for him to accomplish. (e.g. Noah)


  2. God has done for us what was impossible for us to do on our own.
    1. It was impossible for man to provide his own means of salvation: Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 14:12
      1. Romans 3:10 "there is none righteous, no, not one"
      2. Romans 3:23 "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"
      3. Romans 6:23 "the wages of sin is death"


    2. God has given us a perfect covenant/testament through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ- Heb. 8:6
      1. the old covenant was faulty- Hebrews 8:7
      2. the sacrifices were faulty- Hebrews 10:4
      3. Jesus came once and for all as the perfect lamb, the perfect and final sacrifice for sin:
        1. Hebrews 10:9-10, 14
        2. John 1:29; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:24; I John 2:2


    3. God has provided the perfect and complete plan for living/salvation: II Peter 1:3; II Tim 3:16-17
      1. It is given to all men and brings salvation- Titus 2:11-12
      2. It is the Gospel: Romans 1:16; I Corinthians 15:1-2


    4. God has given to man commandments of obedience in order to prove our love for Him and thus receive the benefits of his grace (John 14:15) and His commandments are not grievous- I John 5:3


    5. Thus, God has done everything for man which was beyond man's ability and has left to man that which he can accomplish as a free moral agent- OBEDIENCE! Obedience is the means by which we join hands in agreement with our Creator. God has extended his hand of love and grace to us- we must reciprocate with loving obedience.








  1. God's kingdom is nigh unto you even at this present hour and He invites you to come in. But He will not force you to obey. You must come of your own free will- I Tim. 2:4
    1. Come in Faith: Hebrews 11:6
    2. Come to Repentance: II Peter 3:9
    3. Come and Confess the name of Jesus: Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:10
    4. Come and be Baptized in order to obtain salvation: Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16
    5. "SAVE YOURSELVES FROM THIS CROOKED GENERATION" Acts 2:40
      1. "save yourselves"- literally "be saved" no difference in meaning
      2. When you tell a child to be good, you are responsible to provide the standard of conduct, but they are obliged to obey it, or suffer the consequences.
      3. Peter had already given instruction on how to be saved in Acts 2:37-39.
      4. the response of the believers- Acts 2:41