The Fifth Sunday in Lent
10 April 2011
The death of a loved one is never a pleasant experience. However, it’s safe to say that most people don’t really understand death; even in the Church. The most recent issue of the Lutheran Witness spoke of some of the myths about death that people believe today:
Myth 1: Death is natural.
Myth 2: A Christian will have to answer for his sins when he dies.
Myth 3: When you die, you become an angel.
Myth 4: When you die, you’ll be with the body.
Myth 5: funerals are for the living, not the dead.
Myth 6: the soul sleeps.
Myth 7: the funeral of a Christian is a celebration.
I
Our Lord, experiences this very event in our text today.
They called to Him saying: He whom You love is ill!
This man is named Lazarus. His name means in Aramaic: “God has helped.” He is a part of a family whom we know well from Scripture; the brother of Mary and Martha. This is the same Mary and Martha who hosted Jesus in their home. Mary who was at Jesus’ feet listening to Him, while Martha labored in the kitchen. Jesus taught the family and apparently the family and Jesus had remained close friends.
That they were friends, makes it all the more strange that Jesus does not go directly over their home to be with Lazarus. John tells us, Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two more days where He was. Sounds a bit odd doesn’t it! If Jesus loves this family, why wouldn’t He go immediately? Where is He at the moment that they needed Him most? Jesus tells us: “It is the for the Glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it!”
Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus has fallen asleep. But the disciples are slow to understand. In fact, the disciples constantly are not understanding. Lazarus has not just fallen asleep. He died! He is dead! How slow the disciples are to understand what is taking place here! Like us, they avoid the topic of death.
“If only you were here, Jesus,” cried Martha! They trusted Jesus could heal this man. They had seen many of His miracles, and believed. However, this is death and for us as humans, it is the end as we know it.
At times of bereavement, we offer all sorts of condolences. At Lazarus’ funeral the same things are taking place. Family and friends all gather here to comfort and console each other. I’m sure that they were saying things such as: “he was such a great man.” “We are so sorry for your loss.” “We are keeping you in prayer in these times.” The rabbi Jesus comes to the scene and sounds like He is offering His condolences as well: “Surely your brother will rise again.” They don’t know that this is about to take place here and now.
So Jesus takes this opportunity to teach the family. “I am the resurrection and the Life! He Who believes in me though he die, yet shall he live. And whoever believes in me shall never die!” Do you believe this? Martha replies, yes I believe that you are the Christ that is coming into the world! However, I know that you are talking about the last day. It can’t happen now... could it?
But Jesus is still with them, and when Jesus is with them, He is the Resurrection and the life. Death has no power over Him! This is God Himself and He cannot be defeated by death. So He goes to the tomb of Lazarus and does something peculiar.
The evangelist John tells us “Jesus wept.” This is the shortest verse in the whole bible, and possibly tells us the most about the nature of Jesus. While being true God, He is also True man. In His divinity, Jesus shows us that God despises death. He didn’t create it, and it pains Him terribly to see this predicament on His creation. In His humanity, Jesus shows us that He sympathizes with His family. He feels the same loss, the same sorrow, the same separation that we feel at the loss of of a loved one.
II So what does this account teach us today. First of all we see this reality: Death is painful, even for the most devout Christian. Jesus wept. The very Christ, the Anointed One of God weeps at death. We too should weep at death. He is moved to tears not just out of compassion and sympathy, but because death is not natural. It goes against God’s plan for life. Furthermore, it is the epitome of our the broken relationship with God.
The separation between God and man is the result of sin and as Paul says, the sting of death is sin. The fruit of sin is death. Death is not the plan of God nor was it created by God. Death is the result of sin and the devil mixed with our rebellion against our creator. It is painful for God to see, but it’s also painful for you and me.
We weep at death. We weep at death because of separation. It is a separation from our loved ones. Our friend or family member; We miss that person. We are sad that this person no longer with us.
There is much more to the reason that we weep at at death. It’s more than just missing that loved one. It’s more than our separation with that person. We weep at death because it’s the separation of the body and soul. The tearing a part of God’s crown of creation. When death comes, much more is taking place than what meets the eye. It is a spiritual separation of the body and soul. The body lies there defeated by sin. The soul no longer dwells in this body. This is the real sting of death: sin!
I think it’s proper now that we look at death from what God says. The bible speaks very clearly about two types of death. The “first” and “second” death as spoken of in the book of Revelation.
The first death is the death of the body. The bodily death is the death that is visible to us. It is the death that all people must suffer. Death as I mentioned, is a result of sin. We are all sinners and therefore, we must all die. No matter how good a person you are, no matter how much money you have or don’t have. No matter how healthy or successful you are. Bodily death must come.
Paul states that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. This is because God demands perfection. Nothing impure or unclean can enter into His presence. This is why the body must die.
But there is yet another kind of death that is far worse. This known as Spiritual death. This death comes from rejecting the grace of God that comes from the Holy Spirit. This death trusts in self-righteousness. This death worships false gods. This death lives in this world as if there were no God. In Spiritual death there is eternal separation from God. All who reject the Gospel, God’s free gift of Salvation in Jesus Christ, suffer this death.
Bodily sins lead physical death, but they also can lead to spiritual death. When there is no repentance, we can slowly die this second death. St. Augustine equated repentance with a boat which has a leak in it. If no attention is given to the leak, the boat will eventually flood and sink. Therefore, the leak must be attended to. Water must constantly be removed from the boat lest it sink.
So it is with our lives. Our lives are like the boat. If we fail to remove the sin from our lives through daily contrition and repentance, we to may fall into the spiritual death. We may sink.
Death is a reality for all people. Repent of your sins, trust in Jesus; lest you die the second death. Repentance of sins removes the water that can sink your boat.
III Todays text is so comforting to the repentant sinner who walks through the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus says: “I am the resurrection and the Life! He Who believes in me though he die, yet shall he live. And whoever believes in me shall never die!”
During this Lenten season we are given a glimpse of the resurrection of the dead through the person of Lazarus.
When there is repentance, there is a return to your Resurrection. Yes, you have already been raised from death. But how is it possible to be already raised from the dead if you have not yet died? In your baptism. Paul writes to the Colossians in chapter two: “You have been buried with Him in Baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, Who raised Him from the dead.”
In Baptism your sins are drowned and you are raised to new life in faith. In Baptism you are connected to Jesus‘ death and resurrection. In Baptism, you are raised from your spiritual death and now need not fear physical death. In Baptism, you are forgiven of both your bodily sins and sin of unbelief. In Baptism you are saved!
While discussing the resurrection we are brought back to the story we read today. After weeping at the death of Lazarus, Jesus goes and raises Lazarus to life. As we are very close to Holy Week, this Resurrection of Lazarus really is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ Resurrection. When Lazarus is raised to life, he still had to die a physical death again. In fact, the Jews try to kill right away. But in the Resurrection of Jesus, He never will die again. So also this is a glimpse of your resurrection.
Jesus will return soon. His words of promise are just as valid as they were in the story of Lazarus. He is coming soon, and when He comes, this body of sin, whether dead or alive will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. You will be given a new glorified body. He come to your grave and call you by name: “______ come out!”
Until then take comfort in this during the times of physical death. In fact, your physical death is only the shedding of this sinful body. And when Christ returns you will be given a new body to live forever with all the saints and even Christ Himself.
So now, come and receive Christ in this holy meal as He comes to forgive you all your sins. In the Name of +Jesus+ Amen.
