The Fifth Sunday of Lent (Cycle A)

The tie in between today’s readings: Coming back

Psalm 130:1-8, Ezekiel 37:12-14, Romans 8:8-11, John 11:1-45

We say that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. A good lawyer can keep you from the one. Exercise, supplements, and checkups can postpone the other as we keep that nagging knowledge in the back closets of our minds that nobody gets out of here alive. That’s not the scariest part. Along with the mortality rate, the immortality rate is 100% also and it can be best guess to figure out where we’ll end up when we pass over. With that said, no matter what you are dealing with right now: bills, family, job, etc., it’s the afterlife that’s your biggest problem.

Some deny that there is anything after death. I’ll deal with that later. The vast majority “knows” that there is something more and in that “knowing” fears falling short of the happy ending. So, we try to pick ourselves up by our spiritual bootstraps through meditating, fasting, and spiritual rituals. Though appearing godly, they cannot effect that needed transformation to the divine in the inner man any more than an ointment can remedy blood poisoning. Some want to weigh their good works against their sins on some universal scale of justice. That assumption is flawed. The law of loving God and neighbor with all your heart, soul, and mind requires good acts from all of us all the time. This approach won’t work anymore than trying to argue your way out of a ticket for running a STOP sign because you’ve always stopped at it before. In the end, because we sin and fall short of Gods standards, we will face the Lord’s judgement, be found guilty, and sentenced to the punishment of the eternal second death in hell. However, there is another way.

The other option is to look beyond ourselves and cry out to an Almighty God for help. That is the case in our reading for today in Psalm 130:1-8. The Psalmist opens with an appeal to the Lord for his situation. He admits his sin guilt without excuse and looks for forgiveness. After this, there is nothing left to do, and he leaves his petition in God’s hands as he hopes and waits for an answer. Fortunately for him, the Lord responds in today’s reading in Ezekiel 37:12-14. God promises to take mankind’s predicament head on. He will put His Spirit into him, open his graves, and bring him to life. The Lord has declared it! He will do it! All that is left is to wait in hope. Finally, in today’s gospel the waiting and hoping are over.

Martha and Mary were hoping and waiting, but Jesus purposely delayed. By the time He arrives on the scene their brother, Lazarus, is four days dead. Martha goes out to meet Him. Our gospel reading in John 11:1-45 continues:

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would still be alive. Even now, I know when you’re near, it’s never too late.”

“Martha,” Jesus answers, “Your bother will rise again.”

“Yes, Jesus. I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day. I hope and wait for that.”

“No, Martha, I AM the resurrection and the life. I’m talking about here and now!”

Martha confesses her faith in Jesus as the Christ and goes to get her sister. Mary comes out to meet Jesus with an army of mourners behind her. She falls at His feet and, through her tears, repeats the mantra of the week: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would still be alive.”  

Deeply moved, Jesus asks, “Where have you laid him?” She gets up still crying and leads Him on. The crowd follows. Martha trails behind. It’s one large sobbing mass reminiscent of mankind’s own parade of doom and despair. Jesus is in their midst. He weeps too. They reach the tomb. It’s a cave containing what’s left of their brother. A boulder defiantly guards the entrance and halts their procession.

“Move that stone,” the Lord of Glory commands.

“But, Jesus,” Martha objects, “He’s too far gone.”

“Here and now, Martha, remember? Here and now.”  

The rock is removed. Jesus prays to His Father. He summons the same power that stilled the waves and calmed the storm. With a loud voice he orders, “Lazarus, come forth.” The dead man complies.

In less than a week, the Lord Jesus Christ will die and trade places with his friend Lazarus and all of us who will believe on Him for eternal life. This, my friend, is the key to the whole redemption story. Christ dies! Christ rises! Death is dead! Our epistle in Romans 8:8-11 goes on to explain it. Even though man in his sinful nature deserves to die physically and spiritually, those of us who, by faith, will place themselves with Jesus on the cross will live forever. Being placed into Christ’s death unifies us with His resurrection. The Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead physically gives us new life spiritually…here and now. When we do die, we may be absent from the body, but we’ll be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Our Father will finish the process when He gives us new bodies in the resurrection on the last day. It’s not so much hope and wait anymore, but the already and the not yet, instead. God has solved man’s biggest problem through His Messiah. For those of you who believe that there is nothing beyond the grave, Jesus Christ died and came back, proving that there is something on the other side. Life has an eternal meaning and purpose. We no longer need to commit the bodies of our loved ones to the “Great Perhaps”. The Resurrection cries out “There is a hope of a blessed reality in heaven. Leave your despair!”

Let us all answer the gospel’s call to “Come to Jesus!” Believe on Him for eternal life here and now! Confess your sins and repent. Get serious with God’s Christ. Take Him wholeheartedly as your Lord…your Savior…your hope. Don’t wait!