Lent 5

Sermon

Text: John 11:1-45

This story is another of my favorites. In it Jesus leads is leading us one more step on the way to Jerusalem. This is his last sign before the last week of his life. It revolves around a family that Jesus has connections to, though this is the first we hear from them in John.

Our story is set up in 4 scenes, the introduction and then three acts surrounding each of the 3 siblings, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. The intro simply says that word has been sent to Jesus that Lazarus is sick and that Mary and Martha hope he can come right away. But, Jesus, knowing more than the disciples and more than we do, as usual, waits to go for a few days. Saying John 11:4 “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Which if we didn't know the story would be really confusing, and the disciples are as usual confused and argue with Jesus about going back to Judea, where the Judean leaders want to kill him. If you remember from last week when it says Jews in John it is usually referring to the Judean leadership. Thomas eventually understands that Jesus is going to go whether they come with or not, but decides, well, we might as well go and die with him.

This leads us to our three acts with the three siblings. The first to meet Jesus is Martha. When she gets to him she exclaims. John 11:21 “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus says to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha then declares, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” And to this Jesus declares an even greater truth. John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life, Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.”

Our second act. Mary hears of Jesus being there and emerges, running to him. And she, weeping, also exclaims to Jesus the same as Martha, John 11:32 “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” And to this Jesus, seeing them both crying, asks where Lazarus is buried, and when they show him he begins to weep.

Our third act. At Lazarus' tomb Jesus asks for the stone to be moved away. Martha argues at first that he has been buried for 4 days the stench would be horrible, but Jesus reminds her of seeing the glory of God. And Jesus cries, “Lazarus, come out!” and Lazarus emerges, covered in bandages, and strips of cloth, Jesus tells them to unbind him and let him go. And our scene ends.

Three acts. Yet one message.

Is it that weeping? It is a text beloved by confirmation students when choosing their verse. “Jesus Wept.” But, it is that simplicity which sets it apart. In that moment of seeing Mary and Martha, his friends mourning, Jesus himself mourns. In our moments of grief, we can rest assured that Jesus also weeps with us. This moment of emotion is part of the wonder of our God who became human for us.

Or is it the circumstances of Mary and Martha? The apparent death of Lazarus is more than a death of a beloved brother. They are single, Lazarus was most likely their means of support. His death leads to the changing of every part of their lives. In Lazarus part of them dies, it is no wonder they weep. It is no wonder they cry “Lord, if you had been here, our brother would not have died.” “Lord, if you had been here, we may not soon be destitute.” Jesus' raising of Lazarus certainly gives them life. Showing them that Christ is the resurrection and the life.

Or is the message found in Lazarus? Jesus calls out, Come out, unbind him. Lazarus has been in the stench of decay, the bonds of death, and Jesus removes the stench, removes the bonds. It is the stench of sin that we find ourselves covered with, it is the places of dirt that will not come off of us, it is the bonds of death that surround us, just as deeply as they bound Lazarus. And Jesus removes them.

It is three acts, Jesus is the resurrection and the life, Jesus wept, Lazarus, come out, unbind him, but one message, a message that these acts point to. Jesus in our moments of weakness, of fear, weeps with us. Jesus in bringing Lazarus back from the dead does more than restore Lazarus' life. He restores Mary and Martha's life. Jesus, through bringing Lazarus back from the dead, restores two lives, Jesus, in his own death and resurrection, restores all lives. Destroys the power of sin. For what the message of this story points to is not Lazarus' rising from the dead, Jesus weeping, or Jesus is the resurrection and the life, but all of that in Jesus' own death and resurrection.

In this story we hear how in our moments of fear and the moments when we fail and fall into sin, Jesus weeps for us. Jesus lifts us up, calling to us, come out. I am the resurrection and the life. And that I give to you. Not at some future point, but here and now. Jesus unbinds us from the wrappings that we have placed in or that others have placed upon us. Jesus removes the bonds of sin, and gives us life.

Let us pray,

God of unbinding. As we journey towards your cross. We grieve, but we still feel your resurrected presence in our lives. Show your love to us and give your strength to us and we journey through your Son's last days.

Amen

Hymn of the Day: Abide with Me (ELW 629)