John 11:38–44 - Take Away the Stone!

In the twenty-eighth message of our series through the Gospel of John, Pastor Richard continues through John 11:38–44, bringing us to one of the most dramatic moments in Jesus' earthly ministry—the raising of Lazarus from the dead—and the simple yet profound command: "Take away the stone."

Standing before a sealed tomb, Jesus calls those around Him to remove the barrier before He performs the miracle. Through Martha's hesitation and Jesus' response, this message explores how we often profess faith while still making excuses about why certain areas of our lives cannot change. Whether it is unforgiveness, shame, addiction, broken relationships, fear, or past wounds, Jesus already knows what lies behind the stone and invites us to trust Him enough to let Him bring life where death has taken hold.  

Pastor Richard reminds us that God is not interested in making superficial improvements to our lives. Rather, He is transforming us into a dwelling place for His presence, faithfully working in the deepest places of our hearts—even when we cannot fully understand what He is doing.

This message also points us to the ongoing ministry of Christ, who not only called Lazarus from the grave but continues to intercede for His people today. Because Jesus is for us, nothing can separate us from His love, and no situation is beyond His power to redeem.  

Join us as we continue our journey through the Gospel of John, discovering that the greatest obstacle to experiencing God's transforming power is often the stone we refuse to move—and the incredible life that Jesus brings when we trust Him enough to take it away.