5^th Sabbath in Lent

March 7/9, 2008

Victor H. Nixon

IN BETHANY: NEW LIFE

John 11:17-27

Faith is the underlying theme in this series of sermons on Journeys with Jesus, that is, what it means to follow Jesus, to be his disciple. We’ve visited a variety of places on this journey: a wilderness near Jericho where we learned about overcoming temptation; Jerusalem, where we discovered what it means to be a born again Christian; an ancient well in Samaria that required crossing several boundaries before finding out that it takes more than water to quench our thirst; then, back to Jerusalem where our eyes and minds were opened. Today, we follow Jesus to a tomb in Bethany, less than two miles east of Jerusalem, on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, where life begins again.

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"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died," Martha said to Jesus. "If you had been there . . . ." There’s something important about being present when people are gravely ill, about being there when death comes.

My Grandmother Nixon died in 1945 just before the end of World War II when I was 5 years old. I remember that Smith Mortuary brought her casket to my grandparents’ home for the visitation—a rural custom in those days—and placed it across the arms of the old sofa in the living room. My mother lifted me so that I could see Granny Nick, as the grandchildren called her. Friends came. Family gathered, except for my Dad, who was on a destroyer in the South Pacific. In later years, he spoke of his grief over his mother’s death as well as his grief over being separated from family at such an important time. He missed being there when his momma died.

Some twenty years later, his father, my Granddad Nixon, died unexpectedly. My parents were away, visiting relatives in California, but were able to arrange a return flight. As I drove them from the airport to my grandparents’ house where the family had gathered, I will never forget my Dad’s grief-stricken words: "I was away when Mom died and, now, again when Dad died." Presence is very important at such times.

"If you had been there," Martha said to Jesus. This is, first of all, a story of love in a time of crisis. Lazarus had become ill when Jesus was out of the country, actually, across the Jordan River where he had fled from Jerusalem with his disciples to escape a threat of stoning from the religious authorities accusing him of blasphemy, of claiming to be God. Martha and Mary, Lazarus’s sisters, sent a message to Jesus informing him about their brother’s condition. Although he loved them very much, when he heard their message, Jesus indicated that Lazarus’s illness would "not lead to death," he said, "rather, it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." In other words, his illness was an opportunity for God’s power and grace to be revealed through Jesus.

So, Jesus tarried for two days before deciding to go to Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. When he told his disciples about his decision to return to that area, they were incredulous and afraid. "Teacher, those people were trying to stone you—and you want to go back?" Jesus has a very interesting reply. "Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them." His statement is a challenge to the disciples. Those angry people in Jerusalem walk in darkness. Follow me and you walk in the light. The implied question is: whom do you trust?

Then Jesus tells them that Lazarus has died and, for their sakes, he is glad he was not there so that they will believe in him. "So, let’s go!" Jesus says. But Thomas, ever the doubting one, is not convinced that going back is a good idea at all. Yet, despite his skepticism about Jesus’ decision and his fear of what could happen, he is not in doubt about the Light of the world, the One whom he follows. He looks at the others and says, "O.K. Let’s go and die with him." Thomas follows Jesus and encourages the others to do so even though he thinks they will be stoned to death.

Thomas’s problem is with the wisdom of the decision, not his faith in Jesus, courageously demonstrated by his intention to follow Jesus to Bethany and death. How often we let our fear intimidate our faith! I wish I had twenty-five dollars for every time the church was poised to move into a new ministry that had some risk and cost associated with it and someone said, "I’m afraid of what so-and-so will think or do," or "I’m afraid we won’t be able to pay for it?" or "I’m afraid they’ll leave the church." It almost always happens, human nature, I guess. It’s a fearful voice that goes off inside of me too. But, then, I remember Thomas, God bless him! Fearful Thomas. Doubtful Thomas. Faithful Thomas, who said, "Let’s go."

This is not only a great love story; it’s story of great faith and courage on the part of both Jesus and the disciples, indicating that the One we follow does not let threat, intimidation and risk override his great love for and desire to be with us in crisis. It emphasizes that being a disciple of Jesus is a choice we make, particularly in times of crisis, requiring courageous faith. So, off they went—and off we go—following the Light of the world to confront the powers of darkness, sometimes with fear and doubt, sometimes risking life and limb, if necessary, to be with those God loves in critical times. This is an inspiring and realistic story.

Our text for today begins as Jesus and the disciples arrived in Bethany where they learned that Lazarus had been dead for four days. Friends and neighbors had gathered at their home to offer consolation to Martha and Mary. When Martha heard that Jesus had arrived she went to meet him. Her first words to him were, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." It isn’t an accusation really; it’s more recognition that his presence could have made a difference in his life, as her following statement indicates. "But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." Martha had great faith in Jesus and the power of his presence in her own life and that of her family.

Jesus assured her that her brother would rise again. Martha said, "I know that he will rise again on the last day." She was thinking he meant the general resurrection of the faithful at the last judgment, a common Jewish doctrine at the time, a commonly held belief among some Christians today. Then, Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."

His words are repeated at every United Methodist funeral and at most Christian funerals. They have become part of our ritual, read by one of our pastors, at the beginning of services for death and resurrection. They are the definitive statement of our faith in Christ and our hope in eternal life with God. They are also the definitive statement about life in the present, on both sides of the grave, the here and now, as well as the hereafter.

"I am the resurrection and the life," Jesus said. Jesus is God’s answer to the fear of death and to death itself. Jesus is God’s response to despair and darkness, to illness and evil, to every condition that renders you helpless and hopeless.

Jesus is God’s presence outside of every tomb that we inhabit, that is, whatever prevents you from living life to its fullest, whatever holds you back from realizing your potential, whatever immobilizes you—whether fear, failure, or circumstance. Jesus calls you forth to life as it should be and can be, just as Lazarus was summoned from the grave to a new existence that was more than just being a live body again.

"I am the resurrection and the life." Jesus’s affirmation refers to a quality of living that is authentic and real, as God intends human life to be. This is life with love, hope, confidence, character and strength that is based not upon the world’s values, not upon fear and reprisal, but upon the values of Jesus. This is life that cannot be deterred by threat or death, by economic woes or war, by enemies or empire, by injustice or oppression. This is a story about real living.

"Do you believe this?" Jesus asked Martha. "Do you believe this?" Jesus asked the disciples who followed him to Bethany and beyond. Do you believe this? If so, follow him. Follow him. And you will really live. Thanks be to God. Amen.