5th Sunday in Lent March 29, 2020
Pastor Tim Patoka Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life John 11:17-27, 38-45 1) Jesus Is What He Says 2) Jesus Gives What He Promises
There are some things that, no matter how often you hear them beforehand, you can’t fully understand until you live through it. Whenever I teach a premarriage class, I’m reminded of the one my wife and I went through years ago. I knew that what we were learning was true and helpful in having us last until death parts us. However, it wasn’t until I got married and had a few years of experience under my belt that I began to actually understand what my pastor was trying to teach. For those of you watching who are parents, do you remember how everything changed when God blessed you to raise up a little one in his wondrous way? Whereas before you had an idea, now you know it from first-hand experience how correct you were. On the other hand, think back to a few weeks ago when the general public was first introduced to coronavirus and social distancing. Although we could imagine what it would be like to live under CDC recommendations, it wasn’t until after we’ve lived through some of it that we fully understand what drastic steps are needed to minimize its threat. As is so often the case, it’s not until we live through something that we better understand it. That was also the case in Jesus’ day. Jesus’ disciples and followers knew who he was and his power over all things, including death. Yet it would be until after Jesus’ miracle in John chapter 11 where he raised Lazarus from the dead that they would better understand what that all truly entailed. As we look over these verses, we’ll learn together with Mary, Martha, and the visiting Jewish crowds that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life who is what he says and gives what he promises. 1) Jesus Is What He Says Jesus was on good terms with sisters Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus. He and his disciples had spent the night at their place in Bethany when Martha, the busy hostess, wanted to tear Mary away from listening to God’s Word at Jesus’ feet (Luke 10:38-42). In the time that has since passed, Lazarus had become deathly ill. As recorded earlier in John chapter 11, the sisters notified Jesus about Lazarus’ fatal situation. Jesus responds by assuring them that Lazarus’ sickness will not result in death, but rather for God’s glory (John 11:4).
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5th Sunday in Lent March 29, 2020 Yet Jesus doesn’t leave for Bethany right away. Instead, he delays his trip by two days so that when he arrives Lazarus has already been dead for 4 days. We can only imagine what was going on in Martha’s head when she said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (John 11:21-22) Martha was very likely frustrated with Jesus. Jesus had told her that Lazarus’ sickness wasn’t going to result in death. Yet he has already been dead for 4 days. However, after dishing out a polite rebuke, Martha shows her continued faith in Jesus’ power to do anything he wished despite not knowing about Lazarus’ later resurrection. Pastor Tim Patoka
Let’s look again at Martha’s polite rebuke. She was certainly right! If Jesus had come at least 4 days earlier, he could have stopped Lazarus from dying in the first place. Yet Jesus didn’t act as she expected. Very likely, both Mary and Martha were struggling with doubts if Jesus was truly all he says he is. Doubts that we too may be struggling with given Jesus’ almighty power and our current coronavirus conditions. Like Martha, we know that our God has the power to do anything. Like Martha, we too can wonder, “Lord, if you wanted, you could have helped us have better testing, weakened this disease, helped us prepare, or prevented it entirely! So why didn’t you? Why are we going through these confusing times right now?” Like Mary and Martha, we too can easily have doubts if Jesus is what he says he is. In addition, when those doubts take place in our heart, we struggle even more to continue having faith in our Savior and his promises. Yet we can echo Martha’s faith and quash those doubts because Jesus is what he says he is – the resurrection and the life who therefore has power over death. Jesus tells us as such in our verses, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never perish.” (John 11:25-26) Not only is Jesus the very essence of life and resurrection, he promises to give them to whoever believes in him. Let’s break those two concepts down. The life that Jesus is refers to the spiritual life, a life that has no sins credited against it. Jesus certainly is this life because he has never sinned or fell victim to it. We Christians receive this life and renew ourselves in it whenever we receive the forgiveness of sins. The resurrection that Jesus is refers to the body’s literal coming back to life. Jesus has the power to make this happen as evidenced with Lazarus’ resurrection and Jesus’ own resurrection at the empty tomb. In addition, as Martha briefly mentions, every person will also be resurrected on the Last Day so that their bodies will join where their souls already are.
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5th Sunday in Lent March 29, 2020 To clarify who exactly will benefit from this life and resurrection, we turn our attention to Martha’s confession of faith where she says, “Yes, Lord…I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” (John 11:27) The one who believes what Martha does, that Jesus is the Christ and what all that entails, is the one who will share in Jesus’ life and the resurrection. Because in order for Jesus to be the Life and the Resurrection, he must also be the Christ. Pastor Tim Patoka
Here’s how. The word “Christ” is a title for Jesus that says that he is the Anointed One or the Appointed One to save us from the death we deserve to die. As the Christ, Jesus the Son of God came into this world to save us by offering his perfect life as the sacrifice for our sins. He experienced God’s punishment of death in our place. Yet, because Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, death could not keep its hold on him. As he promised his disciples, he broke forth from the grave three days later and showed the whole world that he has power over death because he is what he says – the Resurrection and the Life. 2) Jesus Gives What He Promises This life and resurrection is not only for Jesus to enjoy. These blessings are also promised to us by the Life and Resurrection himself. We see a taste of that when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. We skip forward a handful of verses after Martha’s confession of faith and see the audience grow in size and emotion as they approach Lazarus’ tomb. We have Mary, Martha, the visiting Jewish crowds, and Jesus himself who gets teary-eyed. We’re reminded that Lazarus is truly dead for the odor of decomposition is already present. After taking the stone away from the tomb’s entrance, Jesus draws the connection for the crowd that this coming miracle would teach them that Jesus truly is the Christ. Then he does the miracle. As John describes it, Jesus “shouted with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The man who had died came out with his feet and his hands bound with strips of linen and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus told them, ‘Loose him and let him go.’” (John 11:43-44) As Jesus promised Martha days before, Lazarus’ sickness did not result in death. It was instead for God’s glory, both God the Father and God the Son. In addition, there were no tricks going on or cons being pulled. This was the same Lazarus who was laid in that tomb 4 days earlier for he was wearing the same clothes they buried him in. Therefore, we see that not only is Jesus what he says, he also gives what he promises. Lazarus’ resurrection is only one of many proofs that Jesus will give us the life and resurrection he has promised. This promised life is one of a spiritual nature 3
5th Sunday in Lent March 29, 2020 that comes to us through the forgiveness of sins. Even though we have, do, and will continue to sin as long as we live in this world, the blood of the Lamb has washed those sins clean away. They are not counted against us nor will they condemn us to an eternity of punishment and suffering. Even though you may have a hard time finding your favorite items at the grocery store or spending physical time with loved ones right now, you have God’s forgiveness in full at all times. Know that you have Jesus’ promised life now. Pastor Tim Patoka
A life that will continue for all time and will experience a bodily resurrection like those we’ve already heard about in our worship service. This promised resurrection helps us remember Jesus’ power when death takes our loved ones away. Death is not the end. For our Savior has power even over it. While tombs and urns may hold our loved one’s remains, these are only temporary housing. For when the Last Day comes, every tomb and urn will be emptied when Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, comes and reunites our bodies where our souls already are so we may continue living for all eternity. What a blessing it is to have these promises given to us during these worrisome COVID-19 days! Even though we may be tempted to doubt our God’s promises and power, he is still at work to do what’s best for us. After all, remember! Martha had to tearfully wait for days to see how Jesus would use Lazarus’ sickness to result in God’s glory. While we are rightfully concerned about these coming months, we know that through it all we have our Savior and his almighty power by our side. To the one who confesses with Martha, “Yes, Lord…I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” (John 11:27) Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never perish.” (John 11:25-26) Jesus is what he says – the Resurrection and Life itself. This life is of a spiritual kind that has no sins counted against it. Jesus has it by nature; we receive it through the forgiveness of sins. Because Jesus is the Resurrection, death has no power over him. His bodily resurrection on Easter Sunday is proof of that and our guarantee that we will also rise from the dead on the Last Day. Even though we may be especially tempted to doubt these truths in these coronavirus days, let us not lose faith and miss out on these blessings. Instead, let us look at Lazarus’ resurrection, confess with Martha, and believe with the visiting Jewish crowds that Jesus is what he says and will give what he promises, himself as the Resurrection and the Life. Amen.
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