The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown

Resurrection and Life

Posted by Admin on 22 Aug 2011. Comment off

Excerpt from Rev. Nancy’s August 21st Sermon

Without a doubt the last few months have been a difficult time for me, being with my father as his health took a sudden and rapid decline, and then as he died last month.  This time with my father was not so much about death...but was more about life.

We shared many thoughts and stories during our time together.  He told me of things he and my Mom did, things I had never heard. He told me about his life growing up and in the army.  We talked about when I was a child and shared family tales as we smiled together. 

We shared our love for one another and most of all we shared our faith together… a faith that is grounded in the words of Christ… the same words our Lord spoke to Martha in the story Chris read for us:  “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.” And then Jesus asked Martha as he asks each of us, “Do you believe this?”

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My father and I emphatically answered, “Yes!”
 
This morning I want for us to look at this story so we might learn from it as we contemplate death... the death of those we love (both past and future deaths) and even our own death...but also as we contemplate life... meaningful, abundant, everlasting and eternal life.
 
Jesus said, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." Abundantly means fully, completely, to the max. Our gospel lesson tells us how that is possible if we recognize three truths in the story:

• First, Jesus’ power over death and his ability to give us abundant and eternal life.
•  Second, the fact that Jesus loves us and cares for us.
•  And third, this is a story that gives us reason for hope.

The story actually begins in verses before where this morning’s lesson begins.  Word had come to Jesus that his good friend Lazarus was ill. Jesus was close to this family. He, no doubt, had spent much time with them. Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.  And so it might seem strange that Jesus did not leave immediately for Bethany when he heard of his friend’s illness, but the gospel writer John tells us that Jesus decided to wait until Lazarus died before going to see them.  He said to the twelve, “Lazarus is dead.  For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
 
When our lesson that Chris read begins we learn that by the time Jesus and the disciples arrived Lazarus had been dead four days. When Martha heard Jesus was on the way, she went to meet him, as she blurted out, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
 
This sounds like a normal statement from one who has just lost a loved one unexpectantly.  Sometimes people will say instead, “O God, why did you let this happen?” . . . Martha’s words contained not only sorrow, but also disappointment . . . and maybe anger at Jesus for not being there. And then she added, “Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” . . . Those are words of hope and also words of faith.
 
Jesus answered her saying, "Your brother will rise again."  To which Martha said, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." . . . And Jesus proclaimed to her and to us those words that we must listen to and trust, "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. Do you believe this?"
 
Martha said to Jesus, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God, he who is coming into the world."  And she immediately went to get her sister Mary telling her, "The Master has come and is calling for you."

And what did Mary say when she saw Jesus?  The same thing her sister had said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." . . . You just know these two sisters had sat together several days before when their beloved brother died and lamented the fact that Jesus was not there to prevent Lazarus’ death.  But again I want to point out that this statement by these two women is an indication of their faith.  They recognized Jesus to be more than their friend . . . more than a compelling teacher . . . they recognized him as a religious leader like none other, who had the ability to do amazing and miraculous things.  “If you were here this would not have happened.” . . . and . . . “I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” and  . . . “I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God, he who is coming into the world.” . . . They recognized in Jesus that he truly did have power over death . . . that he was indeed the Resurrection and Life.  They believed and trusted this fact. . . . Do we? . . . Do you?

Download the full version of Rev. Nancy's sermon here