Sermon 26th March 2023 – 5th Sunday in Lent Text John 11:1-45 – Signs

 Sermon 26^th March 2023 – 5^th Sunday in Lent

Text John 11:1-45 – Signs

 

We are almost at the end of our Lenten road since Ash Wednesday: We are in the home stretch with Palm Sunday next Sunday. During the past few weeks of this Lenten season we have been reading long stretches from the Gospel According to John. We had the Samaritan Woman at the well; we had the man born blind who was healed and today we have the raising of Lazarus from the dead – all quite long readings compared to other weeks.

 

John’s Gospel is different to the other 3 – Matthew, Mark and Luke – often referred to as the “synoptic” Gospels – meaning one eye – as they basically have similar structure and teachings of Jesus particularly the Parables. One of the specific details about John’s gospel is the fact that it doesn’t refer to “miracles” in regards to what Jesus did. Such as today – the raising of Lazarus is not done as a miracle but rather as a sign.

And we see that reference in the very first act by Jesus when he turned water into wine at the wedding at Cana. At the end of that account it says: What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

 

Miraculous things happen in John’s Gospel but John does not call them miracles; instead, the word “signs” is used. In John’s gospel, This is no accident but a way of John teaching us. Another thing about John is he loves the number 7

There are 7 I am statements in John’s Gospel –

1) I Am the Bread of Life.

2) I Am the Light of the World.

3) I Am the gate for the sheep.

4) I Am the Good Shepherd.

5) I Am the resurrection, and the life.

6) I Am the way, the truth, and the life.

7) I Am the true vine.

 

And today the raising of Lazarus, is the seventh and final sign.

Turning Water Into Wine (John 2:1-12) ...

Healing the Nobleman's Son (John 4:46-54) ...

Healing the Man at the Pool (John 5:1-11) ...

Feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-15) ...

Walking on Water (John 6:16-21) ...

Healing a Man Born Blind (John 9:1-12) ...

Raising of Lazarus (John 11)

 

Seven is an important number in the Bible – the number of holiness, the number of completeness, the 7 days of Creation in Genesis. Being a sign, rather than a miracle, we therefore see the raising of Lazarus a bit different. It wasn’t a miracle to show Jesus’ power but rather a sign pointing to what Jesus was about to fulfil.

If it were just about raising Lazarus from the dead as a miracle act it would be meaningless very soon when Lazarus dies again as everyone else does. And it’s not about resurrection because that will be done by Jesus very soon as his fulfilment.

 

Jesus is showing us an early sign that he has authority over death rather than death having authority over us.

And the sign is in the dialogue between Jesus and the 2 sisters, Mary and Martha when he says: “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. So Jesus is not wanting to bring comfort by undoing something that has caused pain like healing the blind man. Bringing Lazarus back to life is not going to give lasting comfort from grief.

Just as healing someone from a sickness is not a lasting comfort because something may happen the next day.

Jesus is giving a sign pointing to something else – something more powerful and meaningful. The true resurrection. That’s what signs do. They point us in the right direction. So the raising of Lazarus is a sign pointing us further than just bringing Lazarus back from the dead. It is pointing us to the Resurrection where there will be no more dying or death ever again. When it’s considered a miracle there is the danger that it’s just a trick like when you watch a magician do something you can’t explain. That’s how many people treated Jesus’ miracles. Like in Matthew 16: The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus, wanting to trick him. So they asked him to show them a miracle from God so they could prove it’s just a trick. They saw his signs as “tricks” and were therefor trying to reveal him as a fake. And people over the centuries have tried to work out how the magician got out of that locked box – was there a secret passage.

 

How did that magician cut the woman in 2 – there must be a hidden compartment with 2 women involved. As you scour through YouTube you can see a multitude of videos revealing how magicians do their “tricks”. And over the years people have tried to disprove Jesus’ “miracles” as nothing more than magic tricks. There has to be a trick as to how he walked on water or, like last week’s healing of the blind man. Remember how they tried to reveal his “trick” with the blind man. It’s not really him but someone who looks like him.

 

But what we see with the raising of Lazarus was not a trick – it was a sign pointing us to a reality. That Jesus has authority over death. That when Jesus speaks he creates. The focus is not to be on Lazarus but on Jesus. Jesus even allowed death to do its worse by allowing Lazarus to remain dead for 4 days – one day longer than what that culture believed the spirit of a person remained after death. Not even the stench of death could stop Jesus from commanding death to let go of Lazarus. And it’s also the reason why Jesus didn’t do what he did to heal the blind man. Remember, he spat on the ground, make mud and rubbed it on his eyes.

 

Jesus didn’t do anything physical like lay his hand on him – He ordered death to let go of Lazarus – “Lazarus come out”. And that because God’s word is his authority. Like when Jesus calmed the storm by his authoritative command: Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. It is how God created – God said let there be light – and there was light. And that’s why Jesus is called the Word of God made flesh. The same word from Creation.

 

So when you hear God’s word “by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ and by his command I forgive you all your sins” you are forgiven. When you hear the words – this is my body – this is my blood shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins – they are authoritative words that do what they say. That’s where we get our comfort in death from the one who said – “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. Authoritative words – no magic or tricks but authority over death. And that means that we too can have confidence when Jesus say that we have a home in his Father’s house and he will come an take us home – we can truly believe.