Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year A)

John 11.1-45 (TIB[1]; adapted):

There was a certain man named Lazarus, who was sick. He and his sisters, Mary and Martha, were from the village of Bethany. 2Mary was the one who had anointed the feet of Jesus with perfume and dried his feet with her hair, and it was her brother Lazarus who was sick. 3The sisters sent this message to Jesus: “Rabbi, the one you love is sick.”

4When Jesus heard this, he said, “This sickness will not end in death; it’s happening for God’s glory, so that God’s Only Begotten may be glorified because of it.” 5Jesus loved these three very much. 6Yet even after hearing that Lazarus was sick, he remained where he was staying for two more days. 7Finally he said to the disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

8They protested, “Rabbi, it was only recently that [some of the religious leaders there] tried to stone you — and you want to go back there again?”

9Jesus replied, “Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk by day don’t stumble, because they see the world bathed in light; 10those who go walking by night will stumble because there is no light in them.”

11After Jesus said this, he said to the disciples, “Our beloved Lazarus has fallen asleep. I am going to Judea to wake him.”

12The disciples objected, “But Rabbi, if he’s only asleep, he’ll be fine.” 13Jesus had been speaking about Lazarus’ death, but they thought he was talking about actual sleep. 14So he said very plainly, “Lazarus is dead! 15For your sakes I’m glad I wasn’t there that you might come to believe. In any event, let’s go to him.”

16Then Thomas, “the Twin,” said to the rest, “Let’s go with Jesus, so we can die with him.”

17When Jesus arrived in Bethany, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Since Bethany was only about two miles from Jerusalem, 19many people had come out to console Martha and Mary about their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary stayed at home with the mourners. 21When she got to Jesus, Martha said, “If you had been here, my brother would never have died! 22Yet even now, I am sure that God will give you whatever you ask.”

23“Your brother will rise again!” Jesus assured her.

24Martha replied, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

25Jesus told her, “I am the Resurrection, and I am Life: those who believe in me will live, even if they die; 26and those who are alive and believe in me will never die. “Do you believe this?”

27“Yes!” Martha replied. “I’ve come to believe that you’re the Messiah, God’s Only Begotten, the One who’s coming into the world.”

28When she had said this, Martha went back and called her sister Mary. “The Teacher is here, asking for you,” she whispered. 29As soon as Mary heard this, she got up and went to him. 30Jesus hadn’t gotten to the village yet. He was at the place where Martha had met him. 31Those who were there consoling her saw her get up quickly and followed Mary, thinking she was going to the tomb to mourn.

32When Mary got to Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “If you had been here, Lazarus never would have died.”

33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the other mourners as well, he was troubled in spirit, moved by the deepest emotions. 34“Where have you laid him?” Jesus asked.

“Come and see,” they said.

35And Jesus wept.

36The people in the crowd began to remark, “See how much he loved him!” 37Others said, “He made the blind person see; why couldn’t he have done something to prevent Lazarus’ death?”

38Jesus was again deeply moved. They approached the tomb, which was a cave with a stone in front of it. 39“Take away the stone,” Jesus directed. 

Martha said, “Rabbi, it’s been four days now. By this time there will be a stench.”

40Jesus replied, “Didn’t I assure you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41So they took the stone away. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Abba, thank you for having heard me. 42I know that you always hear me, but I’ve said this for the sake of the crowd, that they might believe that you sent me!” 43Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44And Lazarus came out of the tomb, still bound hand and foot with linen strips, his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus told the crowd, “Untie him and let him go free.”

45Many of those who had come to console Martha and Mary, and saw what Jesus did, put their faith in him.

Other readings: Ezekiel 37.1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8.6-11

The Gathering Prayer:

By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, You confirmed the universal resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with palms of victory, we cry out to You, O Vanquisher of Death.

Christ — the Joy, the Truth, the Light of All, the Life of the World, and the Resurrection — has appeared in his goodness to those on earth. He has become the Image of our resurrection, granting divine forgiveness to all. Amen.

Adapted from the Orthodox service of Lazarus Saturday

                                   

Single name entertainers are all pretty famous, right? Cher. Madonna. Ellen. Eminem. Dolly. And, of course, Queen B herself, Beyonce.

Back in the early 1980’s there was a Christian entertainer that went by a single name, too. He was born in New Jersey but really made a name for himself when he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and started attending Higher Dimension Evangelical Center (Higher Dimension, for short), an “Integrated, Charismatic, Full-Gospel” church pastored by Carlton Pearson.

Of course, I’m talking about Carman.

I was first introduced to Carman at a concert in Oklahoma City. He was either the opening act or the half-time act, I can’t really remember which. All I knew was this guy was electric. He had charm and charisma. He sang some little, story songs that were often humorous and moving.

In 1984, Carman released his third studio album, Comin’ on Strong. It was a mix of praise songs, worship songs, and yes, some story songs. But it was one song in particular that really took hold of me, Lazarus Come Forth.

The song opens with a big, booming voice, quoting John 11.25 (from the King James version, of course):

I am the resurrection and the Life

He that believeth in me

Though he were dead

Yet shall he live.

The song moves into a very condensed version of our Lesson today for the first verse before the real fun part of the song. The following verses talk about all the people Lazarus meets in “the holding place (where the saints of God) lived beyond the tomb.” Here, Lazarus encounters Gideon, Moses, Elisha, Daniel, Solomon, and David, just to name a few.[2]

As the song progresses, it becomes “testimonial service” where those present “testify” about their encounters with God. Abraham talks about knowing God in the giving of “a child to [his] barren wife.” Solomon, portrayed as a scholarly professor, straightens his robes and says that God made him so smart, he “started to teach it.” Ezekiel explained how he knew God as a “wheel within a wheel.” And David, being “hit by the Holy Ghost,” started dancing.

Lazarus go so excited he chimed in — “Hey! I knew him too!” Of course, this causes quite a commotion as no one knows who “the new kid” is. But, it’s what Lazarus said next that caused the room to grow silent. He said — 

I walked with him and talked with him.

I saw how his teachings awed the crowds.

Those famous tears of compassion? I could actually see.

Man, he used to come over to my house after church

and my sisters would make him dinner.

Every month I even supported his ministry.

I watched him confront the Pharisees.

I was there when he fed the five thousand.

I heard the people “gasp” when he healed the lame.

You see man, I even remember the littlest things,

the things that most folks would forget,

like the simple, loving way He’d just … 

call my name.

It’s here that the location of the songs shifts back and forth between “the holding place” and Lazarus’ tomb in Bethany. We hear Jesus say in a low tone, barely audible, “Lazarus…”

You see, fellas, it just seems like yesterday

I could hear that man saying my name.

Lazarus… 

As a matter of a fact, it seemed like today, I’m not …

Lazarus… 

Excuse me brothers, I think I hear him calling me now … what?

Lazarus.

Jesus?

Lazarus!

Jesus?

Lazarus … Jesus?

Lazarus … Jesus.

Lazarus … Hey, Jesus!

Lazarus, Come Forth!

While I’m sure the actual event wasn’t as “dramatic” as the song, it still gives me goosebumps! Even as I type it out, I hear the song in my head (and if you click on the link associated with the title of the song, you can too).

There are a lot of great things in our Lesson today without the need for artistic license, though. We could see Lazarus as a metaphor of the human condition, all of us “entombed” in sin and wrapped in “death linen,” as I know a lot of sermons will point out.[3]

We could also see in it a similarity with Plato’s Cave; the story of humanity chained to the wall of a cave with a fire behind them. The people watch shadows pass along the wall and give names to them; this is the reality of humanity. Of course, for Plato, Lazarus would be a person freed from his chains by education; a philosopher who now sees the “truth” that the people are imprisoned with no desire to actually be free.

And those are fine.

But I want to point out a couple of other things. The first is from the song. I’m always moved (as one is “supposed” to be) by the last part. The music starts hushed the first time we hear Jesus say, “Lazarus…” in an almost whisper. With each saying, the music builds as does Jesus voice until it crescendos into an explosion of sound and music.

But that’s not the part that gets me. I’m moved by Lazarus’ little speech. His telling the people how he walked and talked with Jesus. Of how Jesus used to come over to the home he had with his sisters, Mary and Martha. It’s the familiarity that gives me a lump in my throat. Especially when we get to the last line — “I remember the little things … like the simple, loving way he called my name.”

That right there, my friends.

That.

Jesus knows us. I mean, he really knows us. He walks with us and talks with us. He calls us by name in a “simple, loving way.”

We see that in our story, too, don’t we. When Lazarus falls ill, his sisters send Jesus a message, “Rabbi, the one you love is sick” (verse 3; cf., verse 36). I find it quite telling that here, in John’s Gospel of all places, where John refers to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved,” John tells us that Lazarus is the only other person Jesus loved.

That means something. Jesus is so moved by his love for these three that he comes to their aid.

But not yet.

That “not yet” is the other part I want to look at.

How many of us have prayed for God’s help, whether it’s healing or a new job or the safety of a family member? I’m sure a lot of us have. Especially now in the midst of a pandemic, there are a lot of us praying for God’s intervention. God’s help. God’s rescue. God’s strength to those on the front lines — nurses, doctors, food workers, delivery people, etc.

But what happens in our story? After Jesus got the news that Lazarus was sick, he didn’t immediately leave for Bethany. No. He stayed two more days wherever he was.

How often is that our situation? We ask God for something — some miracle — and we get nothing. No miracle. No sign. Most times, if we’re honest, we don’t even hear a peep from God. God’s response is delayed.

Usually when that happens, we’re often given that passage from Daniel where the angel finally shows up and says he was dispatched 21 days prior when Daniel first prayed but was delayed because of the “Persian king” (Daniel 10). We don’t see that in this Lesson today, though. We don’t get a reason for the delay. We just see Jesus purposely delaying his trip. Why? If we’re going to be “spiritual” about it, it’s because he wants to make sure Abba gets the glory, that people believe he’s come from God. Jesus said, “For your sakes I’m glad I wasn’t there that you might come to believe. … Abba, thank you for having heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I’ve said this for the sake of the crowd, that they might believe that you sent me” (vv. 15, 41-42).

Jesus’ whole point in delaying his visit to Mary and Martha was so that God would be glorified and the people would believe he was sent from God. But we don’t get that clear of a picture. It’s usually days, weeks, months, or perhaps years before we see how God moved when we prayed. Sometimes, we never know. All we’re asked to do is believe in God (vv.25-27).

But what are we to believe about God? We’re asked to believe that God will answer our prayer. It may not look like we want — Martha and Mary wanted healing but the healing didn’t come. God’s plan was for something else. Something different.

The other thing we’re to believe is that God is with us in the midst of our pain and illness and uncertainty and anxiety and sorrow. We see that God weeps when we weep. We see that God is moved by what moves us. We’re to believe that God is not some distant, emotionless, deity. We’re asked to believe that God is with us, in our midst. We’re asked to believe that God is with us in our grief. That God walks with and talks with us and speaks to us in a “simple, loving way.” We’re asked to believe that this grieving God is also the God of resurrection power; the one who has defeated death and the grave. Not just for us, but as the Orthodox prayers state, Christ has confirmed the universal resurrection of all people. He is the “image of our resurrection, granting divine forgiveness to all.”

~~~

In the Love of the Three in One,

Br. Jack+, LC

_________

[1] Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations and references — and scripture quotations marked (TIB) — are taken from The Inclusive Bible. Copyright © 2007 by Priests for Equality. Used by permission.

[2] What’s particularly interesting to me now as I look back on this song are the missing women saints of God; not one is listed in this “holding place.”

[3] Although, this all changed once Jesus rose from the dead.