Today we come to the greatest miracle and perhaps the greatest of all the "I am" statements found in the gospel of John. We have learned that Jesus is the Light of the world, the Door, and the Good Shepherd. We will learn today that Jesus alone has absolute power over life and death. Jesus is the Good Shepherd because his light shines in the darkest of circumstances, and can open any door--even the door of death.
We remember how in our 7th grade earth science classes we learned that there are four things necessary to sustain life: air--food--light--and water. However Jesus came not only to sustain life--but to give life--and ultimately eternal life. In the Broadway play Showboat there is a line that is sung by a gentleman with a deep bass voice which goes as follows: "I gits weary and sick of trying, I am tired of livin'', but scared of dying." These realities have perhaps gripped your soul and spirit in your journey of life as well.
When Jesus made this bold statement in our text today, it was not only for Lazarus'' sake and his dear sisters, but also for the entire human race past--present--future. Jesus was not only offering up his life for the dying, but also the living. Resurrection power is for all of our journey here on earth--which includes the reality of physical death--but so much more.
It would be a great waste to reduce the life of Jesus to a fire insurance policy for the hereafter. Jesus is bread--water--light --a door--a shepherd for far more of the human journey than that. Even Captain Kirk of Star Trek knew: "How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life." When Jesus said he came that we might experience abundant life, he meant that the same power that he demonstrated in the raising of Lazarus--and ultimately his own resurrection--is available for us today. The abundant life is measured not by the material wealth we accumulate--but rather by how much of God''s truth and purpose we allow to take root in our lives.
It is generally agreed that the two greatest fears of human beings are the fear of dying and the fear of living. This is why in John''s gospel--six chapters earlier--when Jesus finds a man who has sat at pool side for 38 years, he asks him, "Do you want to get well?" Sometimes we become so accustomed to our despair and its paralyzing power that the cure demands more than we want to give.
This might surprise you, but one of the most deeply spiritual movies I have seen was Shawshank Redemption. I even purchased the video. I watch it two or three times a year. I learn something new every time I see it. The last time I viewed it I was gripped by the line that Andy Dufresne tells Red, played by Morgan Freeman: "You can get busy living--or you can get busy dying." It makes a world of difference which of these options prevail in your life.
There is a story about a man whose epitaph read, "Died at forty--buried at eighty." Something had gone out of this man long before he had drawn his last breath. Jesus knew that the secret to death''s power is found in how much we fear it. Fear releases dominating power before the grave--not at the grave. Somehow the fear of dying traps the very purpose of life and locks it up--and we never enjoy our life. Our faith which we celebrate in this sanctuary today is not just a pleasant memorial service to a dead king--or a nice lord. We worship the Living God who declares that abundant life is not just available in heaven--but right here on earth. We have a "foretaste of glory divine." That is why we sing that great evangelical hymn, "He Lives."
Harvard University is considered one of the greatest academic institutions in America and around the world. They receive the students with the highest SAT scores, the brightest minds. A few years ago the President of Harvard University was asked, "What is the greatest problem you see in your university?" He said, "Emptiness! There is no meaning or passion for life. Everybody is bored--no fulfillment." Fancy titles and good credentials do not guarantee even a bright mind a good testimony unless they are connected to the living God. When Jesus made this bold claim, "I am the Resurrection and the Life," he was connecting us to the living God--for he is God the Son. Our existence is not filled with some run-of-the-mill expectation--but by resurrection power. We are called to life.
Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life, we also can be freed from the power of sin and evil. Sin and evil do not have to control our lives. There are no circumstances or situations over which Christ is not sovereign. Because of the resurrection power of God--no longer does my life have to be engulfed by fear--but it can be energized by faith. The resurrection power of Jesus Christ fills this day --this very moment--with importance and opportunity. My life and yours are not in vain. They have an eternal quality and legacy. Our lives are not like a mist which can evaporate in a moment--because we are connected to the Eternal purposes of God.
Nothing is able to separate us from God''s purpose in life. Jesus did not say, "I am despair and death"--but I am the Resurrection and the Life for those who believe in me. Somebody in our church today has come with the feeling that there is more darkness--despair--and death in life than light--love--and life. I am glad you are here. God in Christ can say to you, "Come out! Come out! Receive the gift of Life!" This God of ours has the power to raise us up from this side of the grave--as well as the other side.
We are so blessed that the story of Lazarus--and his raising--takes place in a real human family. This family was very important to Jesus. To our knowledge, Mary, Martha and Lazarus were all single people. This is a clear message that all people are important to Jesus and his church. Jesus himself was the greatest single who ever lived. It was in this home that Jesus felt loved and came to rest from the everyday demands of ministry. If you read the whole account from John 11:1-44, you will see that Jesus ministers to each of them according to their need and level of understanding.
In this story we see both the human and divine nature of our Lord. We read that "Jesus wept." It is one of the most powerful sentences in scripture. Our God does not have a heart of granite, but actually cares and has compassion upon his people. We see Christ''s divinity in his ability to bring new life into Lazarus'' dead body. We see his love and devotion to Mary and Martha, in that he is moved to bring back their brother from the dead.
Jesus knew that nothing stretches the fabric of our faith more than the death of a loved one. In the midst of the darkness of death--Jesus shines his light brighter than the world has seen since the first day of creation. Many people when reading this episode believe Jesus to be a bit casual in his approach to the request of Mary and Martha to come quickly. I think it is better to say that Jesus was confident as he was in all of his ministry. Jesus did not come more quickly because it was God''s will for him not to come more quickly. In Isaiah 55:8 we read, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." There are times in our lives when our requests of God seem to be delayed as well. However, we must remember God is never early--never late--but always on perfect time. Jesus was certainly concerned for Mary, Martha and Lazarus, but he was setting the stage for an action that would far exceed anything they had expected. Jesus would use this Kodak moment to address the fundamental fear of humanity--the fear of death. It was when Jesus called Lazarus from death to life that they--like us--realized that God--not death--has the last word. It is Christ and not Caesar who deserves our soul--our life--our all. It was the resurrection power of Jesus that shook the mighty Roman Empire--and every kingdom since. Without the resurrection power of Jesus Christ--every kingdom is built on a shaky platform.
It was a glorious moment when Lazarus came out of the tomb--but in a week or more Jesus would have to go in. As with all things--Jesus trusted his father--and from the cross he could shout "It is finished!" Love''s redeeming work was done. Jesus was always busy living--so when he faced death, the same principles prevailed. It was his faith in God the Father''s will--that prevented him getting weary--sick of trying--tired of living--and scared of dying.
Today, when people are dying--and almost ready to meet their maker--do they ask to hold a statue of Caesar--or the cross of Christ? They recite the words of the 23rd Psalm and the Lord''s Prayer. It is to Jesus the wise turn. Do you know that the name Lazarus means "God is my help"--and boy did Lazarus receive a gift. The same gift Lazarus received is ours for the taking.
As Peter J. Gomes, the Chaplain at Harvard University Memorial Church says: "The reason that the dying ask to see the cross before they die is to be reminded that Jesus has been where they are now--and that by his grace they are now to go where he is. Suffering--of which death is the ultimate expression--they know by the cross is a means--and not the end. They know that death was as real to Jesus as it is now to them. They know that he was not rescued in the nick of time. They know that when his hour was come--he had to meet it--and that there was no way out--and they know also that this will be true for them. Knowing this--they also know that in the cross--Jesus made it through--and he came out on the other side." The other side was not death and destruction--but light and glory. As we ponder the meaning of Christ''s death and resurrection, we can almost hear the saints singing the song of victory on a distant shore--but in greater light and glory.
Jesus said, "I am the Resurrection and the Life." That is why we are "Called to Life." That is why we are "Busy Living."
Praise be to God for such good words! Amen and amen.