5th Sunday in Lent 3/9/08 Text: John 11:27-53 Title: HOly CPR
5th Sunday in Lent
3/9/2008
Text: John 11:17-27; 38-53
Title: Holy CPR
Last week I talked to you about how unbelief or the weakness of one’s faith leads to fear and how fear leads to all sorts of problems in one’s life. This Sunday I want to talk to you about how weak faith can rob a person of peace in their life. I will show you that by looking at our Gospel reading, the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead.
But before I get started, please turn to the Apostles’ Creed we are confessing this morning. Go to the last two lines of the creed and let’s read it together. "I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen."
What does that statement say? I believe that most of us, if we were to be asked, would say that that particular part of the creed does not have anything to do with our lives as we live them today; it is only talking about that time when Jesus will come back and raise our bodies from the grave, reuniting them with our souls and then living forever in the new world with Jesus. That is a true statement, for that is what will happen. There is no doubt of that, but there is much more meaning in that last part of the creed than that. Those last two lines are talking about the now, the time in which we are living.
But, you say, “They do not say anything about today. They are just talking of the future.” That is right, but you see the resurrection and life everlasting have a lot more to do with our lives as we live them today than just some time in the future.
If you are thinking that way you are not alone, for in our Gospel reading this morning we see a whole group of people that did not get the connection either. Let me show you what I mean. In verse 17, we find that Lazarus has died, in fact, he has been in the tomb for four days.
In verse 21, we see that Martha is not thinking of the resurrection and life everlasting. She is grieving. Her brother died four days earlier and here comes Jesus. A lot of good he is. Her brother is no longer with her and she and her sister and their friends were hurting.
This day she and her sister and all those with them were shedding tears. This day there was no joy, and very little hope. What about this day, Jesus? It's hard for Mary to hide the disappointment that Jesus hadn't done something before her brother died. Where had he been? They had sent word to Jesus several days before and he had plenty of time to get here and keep her brother from dying. Why did it take so long for him to get there? Where had he been? What had he been doing?
You get a sense of the frustration in Martha and Mary's words. They use the exact same words. First Martha comes, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Then Mary tells Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." I would wager that the fact that Jesus had not come when they summoned or what we would call prayed to him was the main topic of conversation before Jesus got there.
Can't you just see Mary and Martha talking with all the others that were concerned about their brother’s health? Of course you can, because we have all been there. We have all summoned God to appear, to do his thing and he never showed up to meet our demands, or if he did, it was too late.
Mary and Martha were no different. Where was Jesus? Why didn't he come right away? If he'd have been here, he could have healed Lazarus right away. If he'd have been here, Lazarus wouldn't have died. But now Jesus finally does come, and this is what he finds…A family full of grief and sorrow. A dear friend who has died and been buried in his grave. He is too late.
So here he is, too late. So what does he do? He feels their pain. He sympathizes with their weaknesses. He even weeps. Those who saw him weep, thought he was weeping for Lazarus. Jesus was not weeping for Lazarus or even Martha and Mary. He is weeping because they did not get it. He tells them, "Take away the stone." Martha, and I am sure others, are worried about the smell; after all, it's been four days and in that heat; well, you can just imagine. And after all, what good will it do?
But Jesus reminds her, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" "Lazarus, come out!," he says and the man who had died came out. Aha! All is well, we think! That's all Martha and Mary needed! Life is good. Their brother is once more with them.
We rejoice with them and say, “What a wonderful story. It is a shame that Jesus is not here so he could do that today.” But wait, if that is the point, the climax of the story, then why are we not told about a joyful reunion, not that there was not one, for I am sure there was.
But John does not tell us of it and for good reason, because Lazarus’ resurrection is not the climax or the point of the story. Think for a second about what Jesus did for Lazarus. Now, I do not want to minimize this miracle in any way, because Jesus really did give life to a man who had been dead for four days. But, did that mean Lazarus wouldn't ever die again? Of course, it does not. In fact, Lazarus might have died again in a rather short time, not from another illness, but from being murdered, because we read in the next chapter that the chief priest set out to have him put to death.
Let me put it this way. Jesus gave Lazarus miraculous CPR. He made him to breathe again. He made his heart start pumping again and his blood start flowing again. It was definitely only something that God could do, but there's something else definite that wasn't the absolute answer to the problem. Lazarus would still die again! Grief and sorrow would still be experienced again.
So what is the climax, the point of this story? Take a few steps back. The climax, the point of the story is what Jesus told Martha in verse 25 where he said, "I AM the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die."
Jesus wasn't so concerned with giving Lazarus miraculous CPR as He was with teaching all of them about a different CPR, that is, "Christ's Power to Resurrect." It wasn't about Lazarus being raised from the dead, but about the one in front of them who had the power to resurrect. It was about the one who said, "Lazarus, come out!"
That is why Saint John does not tell us about a joyful family reunion, but instead tells us about a bunch of angry leaders who decide this is the last straw for Jesus. He tells us about a bunch of people who from that day on make plans to kill Jesus.
Jesus wants to show Mary and Martha and everyone else at Lazarus' grave that he is the Resurrection and the Life. He is the one who would take Lazarus and all people’s place in the grave. He is the one who would come out of the grave in victory after three days, so that all people can have resurrection and eternal life.
The clinching climactic question to Martha and to us, to all people is, "Do you believe this?" My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, has the resurrection and everlasting life just become an endnote to our own story? Do we, like Martha and Mary think that the resurrection and everlasting life doesn't have much hope or joy to give us right now as we live our lives in all of its tragedies? How often have we shared Martha's disappointment, "Lord, I know he will rise again on the Last Day, If you would've been here, my brother wouldn't have died."
“Lord, if you'd have been here, my friend wouldn't have died… or my brother, or my spouse, my parents, my children." “Lord, if you'd have been here, I wouldn't have gotten cancer.” “Lord, if you'd have been here, I wouldn't have lost my job.” “Lord, if you'd have been here, I wouldn't be having all these problems in my life.”
But he does come to us. He is here as he says to us, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Resurrection and everlasting life isn’t just the end of the story; although they certainly will be the end of the story on the Last Day. Every time Jesus intersects your life; he brings resurrection and life. Every time Jesus comes to you; he comes to resurrect you and give you life. He comes in Baptism to resurrect you from the death of your sin to the life of his victory over sin. He comes in his Word to you who are depressed and lonely to resurrect you to joy and hope. He comes in His Word to all of you who are mourning to give you peace. He comes in his own body and blood, in his Holy Supper. You see, Jesus doesn't just talk about life and resurrection, he is the resurrection and the life. And to all of you who believe in him, what does He say? You will live and never die. That's the point of, the climax of this story.
The answer for Mary and Martha and for us is that the rising of Lazarus from the dead wasn't just some mysterious form of CPR. It is a holy CPR…"Christ's Power to resurrect" C…P…R. Do you know CPR? Do you know that Christ has the power to resurrect? Do you know that He brings resurrection and life to those who are dead in sin and struggling with the burdens of this world?
When some receives CPR, it takes someone who has breath and life to give breath and life back to the one doesn't have it. Christ has the power to resurrect because He is the Resurrection and the Life. He triumphed over the grave and destroyed death forever so that He could bring you resurrection and life. "Do you believe it?" Jesus asks us today. I pray that you do, for in a few minutes in the Apostles’ Creed you are also going to confess, "I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord."
And without that confession, there is no resurrection and life everlasting for you; no resurrection, no life, this day, tomorrow, or any day after. Jesus is our resurrection and life everlasting. Amen.
3/9/2008
Text: John 11:17-27; 38-53
Title: Holy CPR
Last week I talked to you about how unbelief or the weakness of one’s faith leads to fear and how fear leads to all sorts of problems in one’s life. This Sunday I want to talk to you about how weak faith can rob a person of peace in their life. I will show you that by looking at our Gospel reading, the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead.
But before I get started, please turn to the Apostles’ Creed we are confessing this morning. Go to the last two lines of the creed and let’s read it together. "I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen."
What does that statement say? I believe that most of us, if we were to be asked, would say that that particular part of the creed does not have anything to do with our lives as we live them today; it is only talking about that time when Jesus will come back and raise our bodies from the grave, reuniting them with our souls and then living forever in the new world with Jesus. That is a true statement, for that is what will happen. There is no doubt of that, but there is much more meaning in that last part of the creed than that. Those last two lines are talking about the now, the time in which we are living.
But, you say, “They do not say anything about today. They are just talking of the future.” That is right, but you see the resurrection and life everlasting have a lot more to do with our lives as we live them today than just some time in the future.
If you are thinking that way you are not alone, for in our Gospel reading this morning we see a whole group of people that did not get the connection either. Let me show you what I mean. In verse 17, we find that Lazarus has died, in fact, he has been in the tomb for four days.
In verse 21, we see that Martha is not thinking of the resurrection and life everlasting. She is grieving. Her brother died four days earlier and here comes Jesus. A lot of good he is. Her brother is no longer with her and she and her sister and their friends were hurting.
This day she and her sister and all those with them were shedding tears. This day there was no joy, and very little hope. What about this day, Jesus? It's hard for Mary to hide the disappointment that Jesus hadn't done something before her brother died. Where had he been? They had sent word to Jesus several days before and he had plenty of time to get here and keep her brother from dying. Why did it take so long for him to get there? Where had he been? What had he been doing?
You get a sense of the frustration in Martha and Mary's words. They use the exact same words. First Martha comes, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Then Mary tells Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." I would wager that the fact that Jesus had not come when they summoned or what we would call prayed to him was the main topic of conversation before Jesus got there.
Can't you just see Mary and Martha talking with all the others that were concerned about their brother’s health? Of course you can, because we have all been there. We have all summoned God to appear, to do his thing and he never showed up to meet our demands, or if he did, it was too late.
Mary and Martha were no different. Where was Jesus? Why didn't he come right away? If he'd have been here, he could have healed Lazarus right away. If he'd have been here, Lazarus wouldn't have died. But now Jesus finally does come, and this is what he finds…A family full of grief and sorrow. A dear friend who has died and been buried in his grave. He is too late.
So here he is, too late. So what does he do? He feels their pain. He sympathizes with their weaknesses. He even weeps. Those who saw him weep, thought he was weeping for Lazarus. Jesus was not weeping for Lazarus or even Martha and Mary. He is weeping because they did not get it. He tells them, "Take away the stone." Martha, and I am sure others, are worried about the smell; after all, it's been four days and in that heat; well, you can just imagine. And after all, what good will it do?
But Jesus reminds her, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" "Lazarus, come out!," he says and the man who had died came out. Aha! All is well, we think! That's all Martha and Mary needed! Life is good. Their brother is once more with them.
We rejoice with them and say, “What a wonderful story. It is a shame that Jesus is not here so he could do that today.” But wait, if that is the point, the climax of the story, then why are we not told about a joyful reunion, not that there was not one, for I am sure there was.
But John does not tell us of it and for good reason, because Lazarus’ resurrection is not the climax or the point of the story. Think for a second about what Jesus did for Lazarus. Now, I do not want to minimize this miracle in any way, because Jesus really did give life to a man who had been dead for four days. But, did that mean Lazarus wouldn't ever die again? Of course, it does not. In fact, Lazarus might have died again in a rather short time, not from another illness, but from being murdered, because we read in the next chapter that the chief priest set out to have him put to death.
Let me put it this way. Jesus gave Lazarus miraculous CPR. He made him to breathe again. He made his heart start pumping again and his blood start flowing again. It was definitely only something that God could do, but there's something else definite that wasn't the absolute answer to the problem. Lazarus would still die again! Grief and sorrow would still be experienced again.
So what is the climax, the point of this story? Take a few steps back. The climax, the point of the story is what Jesus told Martha in verse 25 where he said, "I AM the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die."
Jesus wasn't so concerned with giving Lazarus miraculous CPR as He was with teaching all of them about a different CPR, that is, "Christ's Power to Resurrect." It wasn't about Lazarus being raised from the dead, but about the one in front of them who had the power to resurrect. It was about the one who said, "Lazarus, come out!"
That is why Saint John does not tell us about a joyful family reunion, but instead tells us about a bunch of angry leaders who decide this is the last straw for Jesus. He tells us about a bunch of people who from that day on make plans to kill Jesus.
Jesus wants to show Mary and Martha and everyone else at Lazarus' grave that he is the Resurrection and the Life. He is the one who would take Lazarus and all people’s place in the grave. He is the one who would come out of the grave in victory after three days, so that all people can have resurrection and eternal life.
The clinching climactic question to Martha and to us, to all people is, "Do you believe this?" My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, has the resurrection and everlasting life just become an endnote to our own story? Do we, like Martha and Mary think that the resurrection and everlasting life doesn't have much hope or joy to give us right now as we live our lives in all of its tragedies? How often have we shared Martha's disappointment, "Lord, I know he will rise again on the Last Day, If you would've been here, my brother wouldn't have died."
“Lord, if you'd have been here, my friend wouldn't have died… or my brother, or my spouse, my parents, my children." “Lord, if you'd have been here, I wouldn't have gotten cancer.” “Lord, if you'd have been here, I wouldn't have lost my job.” “Lord, if you'd have been here, I wouldn't be having all these problems in my life.”
But he does come to us. He is here as he says to us, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Resurrection and everlasting life isn’t just the end of the story; although they certainly will be the end of the story on the Last Day. Every time Jesus intersects your life; he brings resurrection and life. Every time Jesus comes to you; he comes to resurrect you and give you life. He comes in Baptism to resurrect you from the death of your sin to the life of his victory over sin. He comes in his Word to you who are depressed and lonely to resurrect you to joy and hope. He comes in His Word to all of you who are mourning to give you peace. He comes in his own body and blood, in his Holy Supper. You see, Jesus doesn't just talk about life and resurrection, he is the resurrection and the life. And to all of you who believe in him, what does He say? You will live and never die. That's the point of, the climax of this story.
The answer for Mary and Martha and for us is that the rising of Lazarus from the dead wasn't just some mysterious form of CPR. It is a holy CPR…"Christ's Power to resurrect" C…P…R. Do you know CPR? Do you know that Christ has the power to resurrect? Do you know that He brings resurrection and life to those who are dead in sin and struggling with the burdens of this world?
When some receives CPR, it takes someone who has breath and life to give breath and life back to the one doesn't have it. Christ has the power to resurrect because He is the Resurrection and the Life. He triumphed over the grave and destroyed death forever so that He could bring you resurrection and life. "Do you believe it?" Jesus asks us today. I pray that you do, for in a few minutes in the Apostles’ Creed you are also going to confess, "I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord."
And without that confession, there is no resurrection and life everlasting for you; no resurrection, no life, this day, tomorrow, or any day after. Jesus is our resurrection and life everlasting. Amen.
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 4:08 AM
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