FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT March 29, 2020
INVOCATION AND CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen.
Pastor: Let us come before our gracious God, sincerely confessing our sins, and gratefully receiving His forgiveness. People: Heavenly Father, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. We have failed to love You with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves, For the sake of Your Son, have mercy and forgive us. Be with us and lead us, that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live!”. On the cross He died for your forgiveness, and from the tomb He rose for your life and salvation. Therefore I, a called and ordained servant of Christ, forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. PSALM 116:5-8 Pastor: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; People: our God is merciful.
Pastor: When I was brought low, People: He saved me.
Pastor: Return, O my soul, to your rest; People: for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
Pastor: For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling; People: I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
PRAYER Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty God, in whom is life now and forever, through Your Son’s suffering and death You have given us victory over sin and death. Breathe into our souls Your life-giving Word, that we may rejoice in Your forgiveness and serve You and one another in love and joy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. People: Amen
HOLY GOSPEL John 11:1–45 (Jesus is the resurrection and the life.) Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN OF THE DAY “Christ the Life of All the Living” Christ the life of all the living, Christ, the death, of death, our foe, Who Thyself for me once giving To the darkest depths of woe: Through Thy suff’rings, death, and merit I eternal life inherit. Thousand, thousand, thanks are due, dearest Jesus, unto You.
Then for all that wrought my pardon, For Thy sorrows deep and sore For Thy anguish in the garden I will thank Thee evermore, Thank Thee for Thy groaning, sighing, For Thy bleeding and Thy dying, For that last triumphant cry, And shall praise Thee Lord on high!
SERMON Turning Death into Life, And Sorrow into Joy!
Grace, mercy, and peace to you, from God our Father, and our miraculous Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Today we’re going to talk about one of Jesus’ greatest miracles, a miracle that turned death into life, and sorrow into joy!
Jesus did many miracles throughout his ministry. Reflecting on His miracles, including the great miracle in today’s Gospel, gives us comfort and inner strength for this difficult time we’re in.
His miracles assure us that Jesus cares about us in every situation, and that He’s truly powerful to save us in body and soul, and every way. And so, as 1 Peter 5:7 says, we can cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us, and helps us in times of trouble.
There’s a wide-spread nervousness in our nation and in the world, as this little virus sweeps through. Jesus would take our worry from us, and give us peace. With our worries abated, we’re empowered to live more confidently and calmly in Christ.
When we live with less fear in life, and more trust in Christ, we can live more responsibly and helpfully toward others. The Gospel empowers us to do this always, and especially at times like this. As Philippians 4:13 says, I can do all this through Him who gives me strength! In Christ, it’ll be okay.
In our Gospel today, Jesus turns tragedy into victory, all unto the glory of God’s Son.
Jesus was in Galilee, when He received bad news that His close friend, Lazarus, was deathly ill. He said to His disciples, “This illness will not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Jesus didn’t rush to Bethany; he stayed in Galilee for two more days. This is a lesson in trusting God’s timing, and not trying to rush Him. He knows what’s doing, what He’s going to do, and the best time to do it. When we let go and trust Him, then, as Romans 8 says, it’ll all work out for good.
During that time of waiting, Lazarus died. Then Jesus told his disciples He was going to Bethany to see him, and as it would turn out, raise him.
Bethany was near Jerusalem, where Jesus’ enemies were. The disciples knew the danger of going there, but when they saw that Jesus was set on going, Thomas boldly exclaimed, “Let’s all go there and die with him.”
Of course, when the time actually came, and Jesus was arrested, they all ran away. But after He rose, Jesus restored them. In the same way, He forgives and restores us weak, but repentant, sinners after our failings.
When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus’ sister, Martha, ran to meet Him. She said, “If you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” “I know you would have healed him.”. “But even now, I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” She was suggesting that Jesus could raise him.
Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.” She said, “I know he will, at the resurrection on the Last Day.” Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” I, who will raise all on the Last Day, can raise Lazarus today if I want.
Then Jesus said these great words of faith and 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, Martha?”
Martha said, “Yes, Lord, I do; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world.”
Then Jesus sent for Martha’s sister, Mary. When she saw Jesus, she said the same thing Martha had said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”
And Jesus wept. Not because Lazarus was gone -- he knew he would raise him -- because of all the grief and sadness Mary and Martha were going through.
Then Jesus went to the tomb. He told them to roll the stone away.
Martha said, “We can’t; he’s been dead four days and there’ll be a terrible odor.”
Jesus said to do it anyway. “Did I not just tell you, that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
Jesus looked up and prayed. Then He shouted, “Lazarus! Come out!”.
I wonder what Mary and Martha were feeling? Anticipation? Suspense? Hope?
Lazarus stood up in the tomb, and walked out. Jesus said, “Take off his grave clothes.”. “Unwrap him, and let him go.”. “He’s strong and completely healed.”
This miracle was so amazing that it astounded, not only Lazarus’ family and friends, and Jesus’ disciples, it also astounded Jesus’ enemies. But not in a good way.
John tells us that after news of this miracle spread through Jerusalem and the region, Jesus’ enemies decided that the time had come once and for all, to have him killed. They thought it was the only way to stop him.
But they knew that they had to do more than just have Jesus killed: they had to destroy His reputation, so that people would be ashamed to believe in Him, and His following would fall apart after he died.
They tried to do this in two ways: first, they resolved to have Jesus crucified. Crucifixion was such an extreme humiliation that they thought no one would believe in him after that; secondly, they decided that they needed to kill Lazarus, too -- get rid of the evidence. Get rid of the miracle worker, and the miracle.
They would find out that’s not so easily done. Jesus’ crucifixion led to His resurrection, and became the salvation of many.
Instead of destroying His reputation, His crucifixion proved His love for the world. And His resurrection proved His power over sin and death for the world. After Jesus died and rose, the message of His salvation spread like fire, eventually all around the world.
We don’t know if Jesus’ enemies carried out their evil scheme to kill Lazarus. Hopefully they didn’t. But no matter what, Lazarus would live forever. He had to die at the end of his natural life; but on the Last Day, Lazarus will be raised in glory to live forever, as will we.
Lazarus may not have remembered anything about the four days when his body laid in the tomb, and his soul rested in Heaven. I would think that was all kept from him, as he lived out the rest of his earthly life.
But certainly, Lazarus must have lived the rest of his life differently after this miraculous experience. I would think that he saw life, and death, very differently after Jesus raised him.
People who have near death experiences often come out of it not afraid to die. We don’t know what these experiences are; the Bible doesn’t’ tell us. But we do know that with Jesus as our Lord, we have nothing to fear.
Believing in this miracle of Lazarus being raised back to life, and in the great miracle of Jesus Himself rising to life, helps us to live our lives differently, too.
While, understandably, we may not relish the idea of having to go through life’s troubles, sicknesses and diseases, heartaches and griefs, and death and dying, this miracle shows us the blessed and happy outcome of it all. So we have nothing to fear.
Jesus is powerful to give life now, and life forever. He’s caring to have compassion on us now, and love for us forever. He’s faithful to be with us now, through every trouble, and trial, and grief, and sickness, and He’s faithful to raise us in glory someday, to live in His Kingdom forever.
Knowing the joy God has in store for us changes everything!
So don’t let today’s troubles burden your soul. Don’t let tomorrow’s uncertainties cause you to fear. Your God is near with power over all that would hurt your soul, and trouble your heart.
Trusting in Him, you have grace for today, hope for tomorrow, and joy forever! So be strong and courageous, and wise and responsible, as you face this trying time.
And as you rejoice in the love and protection of God now, and the sure and certain hope of the glorious resurrection to come, His peace, which passes understanding, will guard your heart and mind, in Christ Jesus, our mighty and miraculous Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Pastor: Let us pray. Lord Jesus, You are the resurrection and the life. You turn death into life, and sorrow into joy. Help us to live as Your resurrection people. We pray that the good news of your victory over sin, death, and trouble of every kind would spread throughout our nation and our world, that all may be comforted and strengthened in faith unto life and joy everlasting. Lord, in Your mercy, People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Be with and bless, dear Lord, all who are impacted by the corona virus. We pray, according to Your good and gracious will, that the spread of the virus would slow and stop. Bless all who are infected with comfort and healing. Comfort all who have lost loved ones.
Bless all health care workers, keep them safe and well, see that they are provided with the medicine, equipment, and protective gear that is needed. Bless and guide those who work to find treatments and a vaccine for the virus.
Lord, bless us all to be responsible and careful, and to exercise good judgment, during this time of sheltering in place. Keep us calm and encouraged, knowing that we are under Your loving care and divine protection.
Lord, bless all who are ill or hurting in any way, including those we name in our hearts… Grant them comfort and healing, according to Your gracious will. Lord, in Your mercy, People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: These and all the prayers of our hearts, we lift up to You, O Lord, for You are the resurrection and the life, and in your name we are bold to pray.
ALL: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
BENEDICTION Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. People: Amen.
Closing Hymn “In the Cross of Christ I Glory” In the cross of Christ I glory, Tow’ring o’er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o’er-take me, Hopes deceive and fears annoy, Never shall the cross forsake me; Lo, it glows with peace and joy.
Bane and blessings, pain and pleasure By the cross are sanctified; Peace is there that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abide.
Join us next weekend for Palm Sunday worship online. We’ll talk about seeing Jesus and the world through Hosanna eyes!
Be safe, be well, and God bless.