Lent 5
29 March 2020
John 11:17-45
Who Is This Man who is going to the Cross? It is Jesus
who said, “I am the Resurrection and the life”
O Lord, my
God. Light of the blind and Strength of the weak; yea, also, Light of those
that see, and Strength of the strong; hearken unto my soul, and hear it crying
out of the depths… (Augustine, Bishop of Hippo 354 - 430)
Father of
mercy; hear the prayers of your repentant children who call on you in love.
Enlighten our minds and sanctify our hearts. We ask this through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God
forever and ever. Amen[2]
Jesus raises
Lazarus from the dead. The raising of Lazarus. Sets the stage for Jesus’
entering Jerusalem. For His passion. This marks the conclusion of His public
ministry. The raising of Lazarus was the last straw. Which caused the
authorities to act. They had to do something quickly. To rid society of the menace of Jesus.
Through the raising of Lazarus. Jesus had earned tremendous popularity and
notoriety.
There is nothing new about Jesus’ power to raise the
dead. He had already raised several people. In this instance. We see the reaction of Mary. Martha. And the
people.
We see Jesus’ humanity. Expressed in His weeping. We
see the power of Jesus’ word. And His teaching of His being the resurrection and the
life. The raising of Lazarus shows us
the power of life over death. As Jesus has an encounter with a dead man. Life.
Eternal life - Is the outcome.
What is the meaning of suffering? The Illness and
death of Lazarus are considered means by which the Father is glorified. Right
now, we are surrounded by anxious people. Many fear catching a virus which
cannot be seen; from a total stranger, who innocently or inadvertently violates our space.
Some fear shut downs. And job loss. And the failure of
financial security.
Some fear losing those we love. They fear hunger and
homelessness. Others fear what life will look like post-COVID 19. Some fear feeling trapped in their own homes.
Many simply fear the loss of control - this outbreak has caused in our own
lives.
‘So what do we do? How do we move forward? What can we
control? We breathe. We make space. We remind ourselves that though this was
not given to us. We can do something with it. We grant ourselves and others
gentleness. We extend grace and compassion. We look out for others. In this
time of uncertainty. But does that not
simply add more busyness into our lives?
We certainly don't need more of that, as though, being busy would
somehow prove our worth.’[3]
When we are ill. Christ’s healing reveals His glory.
When we are dead, Christ’s raising us, like Lazarus, ALL for the glory of God.
In the resurrection. The glory of God’s power is manifest. This offers hope to
the afflicted. For they are assured of the Lord’s help.
John will begin his gospel with these simple words, “and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν
ἡμῖν[4].
Jesus who as a full human. Has the capacity to feel the hurts of
friends. He shares the sorrow of Martha. He weeps with Mary over Lazarus’
death. He expresses His love for his friends. Jesus did not really need to cry.
He knew what he was going to do in the raising of Lazarus. Yet. Human as He
was. He was caught up in the situation. He identified with His friends.
Jesus said, “This
sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may
be glorified through it.”
We may convince ourselves when we are facing difficult
days, “All things work together for good
to those who have been called according to His purposes.” (Romans 8:28) Why
do we say these things? Do we say these words because we believe them to be
true?
Or, do we recite them because we need to believe it?
Do we quote such passages to remind ourselves of the Father’s promises?
Or, do we need to be prompted into trusting God at
lonely and challenging times? Like the anxious father. We need to confess. “Lord I believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark
9:24) As soon as Jesus received the word that His friend Lazarus was sick…He
stays put! When He heard that Lazarus was sick. He stayed where He was. - Two
more days. (v.7)
This request. Is very similar to His mother's at the
wedding of Cana. “They have no more wine!”
(John 2:4). She presents a need. But does not dictate to the Lord how He should
respond.
In these requests. We have a model of intercession.
That makes a need known to the Lord.
With humility. And a recognition
that it is His will that should be done.
Such humility
and submission are key characteristics of an enduring faith. Christ knows your
needs. He knew them before you even gave it a thought. And those needs and
challenges. You will have tomorrow. He knows them. Even as we speak.
Your situation is not a surprise to Him. He is neither
shocked. Astonished. Or annoyed. Your situation. Which is taking all of your time and
attention. - Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Your anxiety.
Which is troubling you. – Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Your helplessness.
Indicates how much you need Him. Take it to the Lord in Prayer.
Jesus came to comfort the bereaved. When Mary reached the place where Jesus was
and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my
brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and those who had
come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus
wept. Then they said, “See how he loved him!” — Vv. 32-36.
The fact that Jesus wept does not indicate a tear or
two fell down Jesus’ face. Jesus literally broke down and sobbed. He was human.
Just like you. He knew how it felt to have lost his best friend in death. You
are never alone. Even in something as private and painful as your grief. He was
a man of sorrows. He was acquainted with grief. He knows and understands your heartache.
“Who has
believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He
grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance
that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man
of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their
faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely, he took up our
infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:1-6)
He knew how it felt to have loved and lost. Jesus knew
what it meant to have his actions scrutinized. And his words analyzed. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would
not have died.” Jesus was delayed two days. And Lazarus died.
How do you react when God appears to be silent? When
you cry to Him day and night and your prayers go unanswered. - How do you feel?
Has God given up on you? Does He still care? Remember He will never leave His
own. He knows your needs burdens joys and sorrows as you carry them to the
throne room of grace. Remain thankful as the Savior answers each petition in
His own perfect time.
This sickness will not end in death. No. It is for
God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it. And where was the God’s
Son ultimately glorified? On a holy hill called Calvary. There He bore yours sins
as His own. He came to destroy sin. Completely.
He’s more serious about your sin then you could ever be! He has devised a plan by which your sin has
been dealt with once and for all. He bore your sin in His own body on the tree.
And then buried them forever in His tomb. Your sins will never see the light of
day. For they are forgiven. Forgotten. And gone.
Jesus raised Lazarus to glorify the Father, to comfort
us in our grief and to teach us the truth about eternal life. This sickness
will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be
glorified through it.
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise
again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the
last day.” 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. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I
believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
— Vv. 23-27
We each must ponder this question…
Is Jesus the resurrection and the life? Testimony of
Scripture is undeniable! – The early disciples would simply say, “We are witnesses of these things!” Acts
5:32; 10:39
Do you believe – that whoever believes in Jesus, even
though they die will live and not die? Mary and Martha believed this – they
knew that they were sinners. But they also knew that Christ is compassionate
who has promised to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus' love for Lazarus and his sisters teaches us
that our faith in the Father's love, even in the midst of adversity, is well
grounded. This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the Lord’s glory
so that God’s Son may be glorified through it. In every situation. In every
circumstance. Even when faced with the consequence of a global pandemic. The
Lord your God will shape and mold and use everything to His glory and your
good. He did this in the lives of Lazarus, Mary and Martha and He will continue
to do in your life.
Christ's love is not condescending. He does not
patronize. Nor does He humiliate. Rather
He humbled Himself by entering time and space. - Becoming obedient to the point
of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8) Pain still happens. And we will not always fully
understand. And yet, despite our lack of knowledge in these things We rejoice.
Even in the midst of suffering. We rejoice. Even though we are called to ventures of which we cannot see the ending. By paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. We rejoice. As we go out with good courage. Not always knowing where we go. But in the knowledge that Christ’s hands are leading us. And His love is supporting us. We love. Because He first loved you.
Even in the midst of suffering. We rejoice. Even though we are called to ventures of which we cannot see the ending. By paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. We rejoice. As we go out with good courage. Not always knowing where we go. But in the knowledge that Christ’s hands are leading us. And His love is supporting us. We love. Because He first loved you.
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Words – 1,980
Passive Sentences-8%
Readability-85%
Reading Level -3.5
[1] Schnorr
von Carolsfeld woodcuts “The Crucifixion” copyright © WELS Permission to use
these copyrighted items is limited to personal and congregational use
[2]
For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For
and By the Church Volume 1 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau © 1994 Delhi,
NY Lent 5
[3] From
a post by Allison Yankey, a CPE colleague, March 23, 2020
[4] The
Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical
Literature and Logos Bible Software
[5] This manuscript was written on the Feast Day of the Annunciation – 3.25.2020 - just 9 months before Christmas
[5] This manuscript was written on the Feast Day of the Annunciation – 3.25.2020 - just 9 months before Christmas
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