TAKING AWAY THE STONES

{ John 11:38 - 44 }

Introduction. I remember one funeral I did some time back where we burried the person in an old church 
cemitary way out in the woods of Laurens county. They played taps and gave a twenty one gun salute. 
Standing there in the middle of the crowd of morners, it seemed like the loneliest place in the world.

There is just something final and almost hopeless feeling about a cemetary. I am sure that was the feeling in 
this account

of Lazuras’ death.

Jesus arrived on the scean in time to see the stone sealed over the doorway of the tomb. The stone is a sign 
of hopelessness. It meant that all was final. The last word was spoken, the last touch of comfort had been 
given, and nothing more could be said or done.

For many of us we are almost at that place with our loved ones. We feel that they are beyond our reach, and 
we have tried everything, and they are still dead. We even sent word to Jesus and he has seemingly not 
shown up. 

There is nothing more to be said or done. The stone has been placed.

That stone may be addictions, it may be traps, it may be a number of things the devil has put in their life to 
seal their doom. Jesus is in the business of taking away the stone.

I. SATAN WANTS TO FINISH US OFF:

A. Satan wants us dead and in grave clothes, and the stone placed in the way. 

1. He would like to make sure our destruction. 

2. He does not play games, he aims to kill, steal and to destroy.

B. Another good example of this is Jesus’ death.

Matthew 27:63-66 

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 
64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, 
and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than 
the first. 65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66So they went, 
and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. 

A. Satan is wanting to lock you into away. 

B. They put the governments seal on it and then set a watch over it to make sure no one could get him out.

1. Satan has put his seal on some lives, he has assigned his demons to keep watch.

2. They hold the chains tight.

C. The key is found in vs. 65 "make it as sure as you can."

1. His power and authority over rides everything else.

II. HE WANTS US TO GIVE UP:

A. He wants to make things look so bad we don’t even have any hope of a chance.

B. The people wanted to blame God for his condition.

John 11:37 

And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this 
man should not have died? 

C. His family had given up on him. 

John 11:39 

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this 
time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 


1. Things looked hopeless and no need to try.

2. Just let things alone.

D. Jesus spoke the word to them.

John 11:40 

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of 
God? 

III. WHEN JESUS SPEAKS, THINGS HAPPEN:

John 11:43 

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 

A. He spoke with a loud voice - exceedingly, great, mighty, strong.

1. He might have raised his voice, but, he might not have.

2. No matter how he does it, his is an exceeding, great, mighty and strong voice.

B. Look back at the story of Jesus’ burrial.

Mark 16:3 

And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 

1. It was too big, too heavy and too impossable.

2. There is no way we can do what needs to be done in their lives.

Matthew 28:2 

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and 
rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 

3. Jesus can roll away the stone!!!!