Good Friday - Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 – Membership has its privileges

Good Friday

Text: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 – Membership has its privileges

Some years ago American Express ran a marketing campaign with the slogan:

“Membership has its privileges”.

It was to encourage you to apply for its credit card which was to stand out when you went places and paid with it.

It was supposed to get you recognition that other credit cards didn’t.

These days just about every organisation has a membership program that offers you privileges and discounts to try and get your loyalty.

When you sign up they give you a loyalty card with member only discounts and invitations to special events.

I’m sure if you look in your wallet or purse you’d find one or more membership cards.

When doing our annual statistics one of the statistics we report on is “Baptised Membership”.

Baptism is considered as a membership status of the church.

What sort of privileges does this sort of membership offer?

On this most solemn day in the church calendar, St Paul explains to us what we are joining when we are baptised.

He says: “all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”

What does that mean.

He goes on further to say:

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:3,4).

Jesus’ death is a very solemn day which we acknowledge by the starkness of our church today.

No flowers, no coloured paraments, no adoration of the altar or sanctuary whatsoever.

Make no mistake – this was not a glorious day for Jesus or his Father in heaven.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me – why are you so far from helping me” (Psalm 22)

It was not a glorious day for Jesus but it is the most glorious day for us.

The writer to the Hebrews makes it very clear what Jesus death now means for us:

It means that we can now approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. .

Because of his death Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all (Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9).

When Jesus died we read in Matthew’s Gospel that the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

That curtain was a barrier to the throne of God in the Holy of Holies – the most holy place in the temple that only the High Priest could enter.

You and I could not come near the throne of God’s presence

We could only hope that God would hear us through his high priest.

There was only one member in that elite tribe who had access to God’s throne of grace – the High Priest.

But by his death Jesus has torn down all barriers and invited us to approach God’s grace with boldness

Boldness not in the sense of arrogance, but with confidence.

Confidence that God hears us when we cry out to him for help, as he did for Jesus:

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard.

So too God hears us because of Jesus’ death.

His death has torn down all barriers symbolised by the temple curtain being torn in two.

We now have confidence in being saved from eternal death, as Jesus, through his obedience and death has become the source of eternal salvation for all.

There is a solemness and sadness about today and we should never lose that even though it is such glorious news for us.

And we should never forget the cost of our salvation and that it was because of our disobedience to God that Jesus’ obedience included his obedience unto death – even death on a cross (Philippians 2).

It was a horrible death, a death of torture and pain and suffering.

Bloody and bruised, mocked and derided, stripped naked and nailed to the cross, Jesus endured the suffering and felt the pain.

But there were no cries of pain by Jesus until he felt the pain of our sin.

It was then Jesus felt the greatest of all pains – abandonment by God – true hell.

But because of his pain, suffering and death we will be spared the pain of abandonment by God.

We will be spared the pain of hell.

A pain to which there is nothing to compare.

Abandonment by God.

True hell.

Because of all that Jesus went through, for us, we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.

And so the cross is no longer a place of shame and torture.

It is a place of love and hope.

In fact John’s gospel doesn’t have an Ascension account because he sees the cross as the throne of God where we now come to to find God’s love and our hope of eternal life.

Let us therefore approach the Cross of Christ, the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Membership has its privileges.

Baptised into Jesus’ death and as members of God’s family has its privileges – eternal life in heaven.

Good Friday - Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 – Sin properly dealt with

Sermon Good Friday

Text Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 – Sin properly dealt with

I never know what to write on Good Friday that seems fresh and new.

I’ve started this sermon several times trying to get an angle or opening illustration that you’ll remember.

I can only sympathise with Pastors from previous generations who used pen and paper and typewriters and their frustrations at starting sermons over and over again – ripping out that paper from the typewriter and going through bottles of liquid paper.

I couldn’t understand why I was struggling so much.

And then it hit me.

What I was trying to do was not helpful for you.

I had forgotten the core message of Good Friday.

Good Friday is not about me finding a good sermon point to hit home with or something that you will laugh at and talk about later.

No, Good Friday is about one thing and one thing only.

Proclaiming again that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

Maybe I was feeling a bit self-conscious.

It seems that many today don’t like to hear that they are sinners so how can we make sense of Jesus dying for our sin?

The brutality and harshness of Jesus’ death however should tell us that sin is a serious matter.

Why?

Because it separates us from God.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden it began a life of separation from God for them.

First they hid.

But when they could no longer hide God sent them out of garden – not as a punishment but for their protection from punishment.

As the population of the world grew, so did its sinfulness and God even regretted having made humankind.

He decided to wipe out his creation with a world-wide flood and start again with one righteous person.

Noah and his family.

But that didn’t solve the problem as sin began to multiply again as the population grew.

God devised a system of sacrifices to pay for the sin of the world with one nation representing the world – Israel – and one tribe from that nation – the Levites – from whom a certain group would become priests who would oversee the sacrifices  – and from them one family would be the line of High Priests – and only the High Priest could enter into God’s presence in the Holy of Holies in the temple once a year on the Day of Atonement.

Sin is something we all struggle with and wondering whether it is really that bad.

We only need to listen again to the brutality of Jesus’ death to understand that, yes, sin is serious.

And Jesus’ death should be the central message of any Good Friday message.

And if you ever want to understand the complexity of sin then read the books of Leviticus and Numbers in the Old Testament.

Sin could not be overlook by God but it was how God was going to deal with sin so as to preserve humanity that he had created in his own image.

The grief that wiping out the entire population in the days of Noah brought to God saw God vow that he would never deal with sin that way again. (Genesis 9:13).

But God still had to deal with sin.

And so he sent Jesus – holy and innocent so that his death would pay in full the sins of the world.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that we would become the righteousness of God.

Jesus is the new High Priest who has gained access again to our Heavenly Father for us.

And now, through Jesus, we can approach the throne of grace with boldness, where we will find forgiveness for our sin.

Now maybe none of this really makes sense or you don’t understand the significance of it.

That’s okay.

That’s the point of Good Friday.

Good Friday was to take away the complexity of having the right sacrifice for the particular sin we had commited.

It means we don’t need to worry about having the right sacrifice for the particular sin – or having the right combination of words to say to God.

No, Jesus made it quite plain and simple what Good Friday is about when he said:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

As St Paul so simply says: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

So when Jesus cries out from the cross – It is finished – he meant that the work of reconciling us with God was finished.

No more separation or hiding.

Friends, when God created Adam and Eve he created the world for them to enjoy.

God would come in the cool of the day to speak with them.

That’s what Jesus came to restore.

A life where we became free again to enjoy God’s creation.

Sadly sin in the world continues to create the division that Jesus death overcame.

We continue see a divide between rich and poor because of greed.

We continue to see a divide between nations through war, terrorism and racism.

And again we saw what humankind without an understanding of God’s love and forgiveness can do by the terrorist acts in Brussels.

We are called to go from here and set a new example of love.

To be an example of the extent that God was prepared to go through because of his love for us.

Whether it’s the injustice we seen the world with prejudice, racism, violence, treatment of asylum seekers, anything that goes against love of fellow humanity – we need to remember the extent of God’s love in the death of his own Son and speak out against the sin and injustice.

Thanks be to God that because of Jesus death we no longer have to hide like Adam and Eve did but we can boldly and with confidence approach the throne of God and seek his forgiveness and stand against sin and the evil it produces in the world.

Year A - Palm Sunday

Sermon Palm Sunday

Text Matthew 21:1-11 Quick Change

There is a saying that if you don’t like Melbourne weather, just wait half an hour and it will change.

I’ve found myself these past few weeks starting off the day with jumper and heater – only to be ripping them off before midday and putting the air conditioning on and then getting home and putting my electric blanket on.

Things change very quickly:

The football season has just started and the media are already speculating on which coach will be sacked first.

In our own lives things can also take a sudden change.

Life can be going along so smoothly until there’s a call back from the doctor – or there’s a knock at the door with the news that there’s been an accident.

We cannot find any guarantee against such changes in life.

We take out insurance to try and cope but health insurance won’t stop you from getting sick – just a huge bill and your choice of hospital and doctor.

Life insurance won’t protect your life but gives some financial security to those left behind.

Car insurance won’t protect you from the person who has had a few too many drinks or who is distracted on their mobile phone.

Likewise Jesus is discovering today just how uncertain life can be and how quickly it can change.

In the matter of days Jesus will go from having people praising and cheering him to calling for his death.

But surprisingly there is really nothing untoward that happens that would change their minds about Jesus.

And that’s sometimes how life goes.

Sometimes there is no explanation as to why certain things happen.

Even Jesus himself struggled and asked why, even though he knew that this is what was going to happen:

He cried out – “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me”.

And that’s sometimes what we feel like crying out – My God – why?

We know that God loves us but we still question it at times.

Why are you letting this happen to me?

Sometimes there is no answer as to why.

As a Pastor, sometimes I have to shake head in disbelief too when I am asked – why?

And when that happens I don’t point them to an answer or a reason why, but I point them to the one who can provide comfort and assurance and that is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus was not immune to the unexpected changes in life but what he has done is gone beyond those changes to give us hope.

So when something unexpected come our way – no matter how tragic that circumstance is – Jesus points us beyond that to the coming time when all that will fade away and a new life will emerge.

Just as John saw in his Revelation when he said:

I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. God will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

Part of the reason why the people turned on Jesus was because he didn’t arrive the way they expected their new King to arrive.

He didn’t arrive on a white stallion ready for battle – he arrived on a donkey.

But that has been the type of King Jesus has been all along.

He wasn’t born in a palace but in a barn – in a feeding trough.

He wasn’t born to a ruling King and Queen but to an unwed teenage peasant girl.

He didn’t associate with the leading members of society but ate and drank with sinners and tax collectors.

And maybe that’s why so many people struggle with their relationship with God.

Because God doesn’t always act in ways that we believe God should act.

God should protect us from sickness, death and tragic accidents.

We call events like what we have just seen in Queensland and NSW as “acts of God”.

Acts of God that have killed and injured and destroyed.

And so Jesus’ entrance today is a different type of entry.

It is an entry that shows that God doesn’t always work to OUR expectations but instead offers us a better expectation.

An expectation that he is there for us when it matters most.

When we are standing before God on Judgment Day we will have by our side the one who has been given all authority.

That’s what St Paul said: God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord

And Jesus will use that authority to ensure us of our home in heaven without judgment.

In our Baptism we hear that assurance when Jesus says – all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.

So we are not to look at what is happening all around us which is so uncertain.

We are to look to the future where Jesus has made all things new and therefore we are certain of what is ahead of us.

A new heaven and new earth.

Life along the way may not always be what we hope or expect, but with Jesus by our side we know that when we arrive at the end of life that Jesus will be there to make sure we do not miss out on entering into heaven.

And with Jesus, our entry into heaven will be OUR triumphal entry.

Hosanna to Jesus Christ our Lord.

Maundy Thursday - Text John 13:1-17, 31b-35 – Loving by serving

Sermon Maundy Thursday

Text John 13:1-17, 31b-35 – Loving by serving

The last 12 months or so has seen the news dominated by some of the worst terrorist attacks and threats since September 11.

And again we have seen this played out in Brussels.

The reason behind these attacks is supposedly not because of their hate of the people they are attacking but because of their love for God.

And they believe that this is what God would want them to do.

For Christians we see our relationship with God in the same way:

What we do is because we love God.

And what we do is what we believe God would want us to do.

As Jesus reminds us when he is asked what the greatest commandment is – he responds – to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.

What is significant however, for Christians, is what followed next:

The 2nd commandment is like it – love your neighbour as yourself.

Therefore we could not express our love for God by hurting our neighbour.

No matter how much a person strays from God – even if they are diametrically opposed to God – they are still created by God and bear God’s image and so to hurt them is to hurt God whose image they bear.

And despite what they believe about God, they are still people for whom Christ died.

But there is also a difference in how we see our relationship with God.

As servants of God we are also servants of one another.

And we are given the example tonight as WE are served BY God.

Jesus was sent as an example of a servant of all.

He came, not to be served but to serve.

And Jesus shows that we don’t serve God or our neighbour by hurting them.

Jesus came to show the love of God expressed in the most intimate form:

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

And now Jesus passes that on to us as he sits down with his disciples and serves them by washing their feet as an act of servanthood.

And then he steps ups and says – a new commandment I give to you – love one another.

As I have loved you so you are to love one another – and by this others will know you’re my disciples.

Not by acts of terrorism, violence or any other form of hurt towards our fellow human beings.

No, by showing unconditional love.

And Jesus will show the extent of that love – not by taking another’s life but by giving his own life.

And then, as St Paul says: what I received from the Lord I now pass on to you.

The giving of one’s life for the serving of God as we see in Holy Communion.

And that’s the big difference – we are servants of God – and servants of our neighbour.

And as servants we serve God and those created in God’s image – our fellow human beings.

Jesus’ model of foot washing exemplifies love and service.

He shows that love is not just an emotion or idea but an action.

And he shows that love is not an action that hurts or excludes.

When Peter wanted to be excluded from Jesus washing his feet he thought he was showing love and respect to Jesus – “You will never wash my feet."

But Jesus shows that love is fully inclusive.

It doesn’t reject anyone – it makes no demands.

So when we come to the table this evening we hear – “take and eat – take and drink” and no more.

Not take and eat if.. or take and drink when…

There are no conditions because God’s gift of salvation and life is available to all through Christ’s victory on the cross.

There is no sin so great that Christ’s death does not cover it – even those who put him to death were offered forgiveness – forgive them Father they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).

There is no sin so small that we do not bring it to the cross to hear the comfort of Christ’s forgiveness.

This night was a special night – even though just the 12 were present they represent us all, including Judas who too was offered Christ’s body and blood – none were excluded.

So may you go from here knowing that it’s not about being worthy enough but about being included.

We show God how much we love him by showing the same unconditional love to our neighbour.

Washing his disciples’ feet broke all the accepted conventions for a teacher and master.

But then again, God’s love breaks all accepted conventions.

God’s love commands that we love our enemy.

God’s love commands that we eat with sinners.

God’s love loves the unlovable.

God’s love loves unconditionally.

And we thank God for that because you and I fit into all those categories and more for it was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us for God first loved us.

Jesus washing his disciples’ feet is not how we would use all the power of God if it was available to us. 

It isn’t the way power is usually used in our world:  nations dominate nations; businesses take over weaker rivals, political leaders call each other names and yell at each other. 

And that’s what Peter couldn’t understand when he firstly wanted to take the glory road, when he refused to have Jesus wash his feet, and when he used his sword to cut off the ear of Jesus’ attacker.

Today’s gospel is an example of using power to the benefit and for the good of others.

Jesus’ use of power is an example to us and it begins by loving and serving God and our neighbour.

So may God bless you as you prepare for tomorrow’s Good Friday where you will again witness the greatest act of servanthood as Jesus lays down his life for us and the world.

Maundy Thursday - Text: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 – The temptation of “the selfie”

Sermon 2^nd April 2015 – Maundy Thursday

Text: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 – The temptation of “the selfie”

There is an interesting comparison between 2 of the characters in the account of Jesus death.

Jesus and Pilate.

Jesus stands before Pilate for an extended period of time.

Pilate wants to let Jesus go.

Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” (John 19:4)

The Jews don’t accept this and demand his crucifixion.

But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” (John 19:6)

Even his wife knew that something was amiss.

Pilate’s wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” (Matthew 27:19)

In the end, fearing the Jews, fearing Jesus, fearing his wife, Pilate only has one option:

He took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” (Matthew 27:24)

Washing his hands was Pilate’s way of looking after himself – if you want to crucify him, you take him and do it.

Compare that to what we see Jesus doing today – washing feet.

But not his own feet but the feet of his disciples.

This is not an act of selfishness but an act of love and servanthood looking out for the other person.

Even Peter is shocked by this unusual act of servanthood –

“You will never wash my feet”. (John 13:8)

Sounds quite pious and what we might expect from a devout follower of Jesus.

But it sounds very similar to a previous encounter between Peter and Jesus where Peter hides his own selfishness behind an act of piety.

Back when Jesus predicted his suffering and death Peter responded with:

“Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” (Matthew 16:22)

What Peter is really saying is – I don’t want that to ever happen to me.

Peter was a bit like that;

Remember at the Transfiguration where he wanted to build 3 shelters to stay on top of the mountain. (Matthew 17:4)

What about everyone else?

But Jesus saw through Peter’s veiled attempt of self-preservation:

“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:23).

Pilate and Peter are displaying typical human behaviours, thinking of themselves, while Jesus is giving a new commandment:

Love one another as I have loved you. (John 13:34,35)

This is different to the earlier commandment where Jesus says – Love your neighbour as yourself as it still has the starting point as oneself.

Now Jesus is saying to begin by looking at how he has loved us as the starting point.

Jesus loved the sinner.

Jesus put aside his own needs for our needs – “not my will be done but yours”. (Luke 22:42)

Jesus went against social conventions when he touched the leper (Matthew 8:3), when he let the sinful woman touch him, (Luke 7:36-50) when he healed the Canaanite woman’s daughter, (Matthew 15:21-28) when he ate at Zacchaeus’s house (Luke 19:1-10) when he told the people to example the Good Samaritan, (Luke 10:25-37) their despised neighbour and the list could go on and on where Jesus looks at the needs of others ahead of his own.

This is a real change for our present society.

We live in a society where the “selfie” is the modern craze where we take pictures of ourselves.

No longer is the camera facing away from us – no it’s now turned in on us – and in fact last year the biggest selling Christmas gift was the “selfie-stick” –

And extendable rod that you attach to your phone so you can take even better pictures of yourself.

Everything in society seems to be going to the “self”.

Many years it began with “self-serve” petrol.

Now we see “self-serve” checkouts at our supermarkets.

Self-managed superannuation.

The “self” is where we are told to put our confidence in.

If you want the job done – do it yourself.

But now Jesus shows us the better way –

To look away from the “self” – to deny oneself and look to Jesus selfless act of giving his love to others.

As you come to Holy Communion this evening, remember that here is the love of Jesus that we are called to look to when he says – love one another as I have loved you.

This is how Jesus has loved you and he will repeat it in chapter 15 when he says:

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  (John 15:12,13).

Love begins not with ourselves but by looking to how God loves us which John tells us:

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that God first loved us. (1 John 4:10, 19).

Maundy Thursday - Text: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 – Our dinner invitation

Maundy Thursday

Text: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 – Our dinner invitation

Every day in my emails I receive several offers for cheap meals.

They are often very restrictive on when you can use them and what you can order.

Often you can’t use them on Saturday evenings and you can only order certain things off the menu.

They’re great, as long as it fits in with your availability.

On a few occasions I have bought them and not used them because we just couldn’t find a date that suited us and the restaurant.

Tonight we have all received in invitation to a meal.

And there are no restrictions.

We put some on them ourselves – children have to have done First Communion or Confirmation.

Some congregations still insist on – Lutherans only for Lutheran altars.

Today we have a less strict instruction that’s referred to as Responsible Communion practice, still with some restrictions where the person is to be baptised, believe in the Trinity, confess their sins and believe in the Real Presence.

Maybe you can think of some others over the years.

But the reality is, this invitation is for all.

Sometimes churches might exclude those we believe are unworthy because of a lack of repentance:

We call that “excommunication”.

And yet Jesus did not example this at the Last Supper as Judas, whom Jesus knew would betray him, participates in that Holy Meal.

This is a meal for all people – it is inclusive rather than exclusive.

We might participate in different ways:

We might gather around the altar or have continuous communion.

We might take a wafer or a piece of bread.

We might intinct or we might take the bread and wine separately.

We might drink from the common cup or from an individual cup.

We might kneel before the altar, or stand, or receive it where we are seated.

We might receive it at church or in a private communion at home or in hospital.

It makes no difference.

What is significant is what we are receiving.

We are receiving Jesus’ body and blood that was shed for us on the cross as payment for our sins.

And that’s what is important.

This meal is Jesus gift to us as we journey through this life to our home in heaven.

It is a foretaste of the feast to come in heaven where we will gather together with God and all his family to celebrate our new eternal life in heaven.

That’s not to say that some of the teachings we have aren’t important as long as they don’t take away from the Sacrament.

And they take away from the Sacrament when we give the impression that somehow the Sacrament is a reward for our faith or that a person must be a certain standard before they can present themselves at the altar.

I have experienced that in the past when a person hasn’t come to the altar because they felt that they weren’t worthy enough to receive Holy Communion.

We get a hint of that from Peter today when he refused to have Jesus wash his feet because he felt that he should be washing Jesus feet.

You will never wash my feet."

But Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me

John the Baptist had similar reservations:

"I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" (Matthew 3:14)

We can understand Peter and John.

This is totally different to anyone’s understanding of God.

But this is a very different God.

This is a God who emptied himself and took the form of a servant.

This is a God who serves us.

This is a relationship between a Father in Heaven with his children created in his image.

It’s no different to the relationship between earthly parents and their children.

Parents serve their children.

They feed them, they clothe them, they protect them, provide home and shelter.

They would sacrifice for their children.

We come to the table with the same understanding – that here God feeds us with Jesus body and blood, clothes us with Jesus righteousness, protects us from the world and the devil, provides us with a home in heaven where he has promised he will return and take us to.

God sacrifices the life of his own son for us – God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)

So come to this table tonight and let God serve you.

There is nothing you bring except open hands to receive all that God has to give to you.

In Jesus is the fullness of God and in the Bread and Wine is the fullness of Jesus.

So here you receive all that God has to offer you – God holds nothing back.

Come as you are, children of God, love by God.

Year A 2017 - 5th Sunday in Lent

Sermon 2^nd April

Text John 11:1-45 – Jesus, the final Word.

Today’s gospel reading is again a very long reading but at the heart of message is the question or statement made by both Mary and Martha and also the crowd to Jesus.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

And some of the crowd who saw Jesus weeping said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

No doubt it is among the questions that many people ask when the reality of death confronts them.

Or when any tragic circumstance happens aren’t we tempted to look to God and ask “why”?

Why did you let this happen?

Why didn’t you stop this from happening?

Why does God allow the terrorist acts to occur.

Why does God allow tragic circumstances to happen to anyone, let alone Christians?

Is it wrong to think like that?

Not if we look at the examples in the Bible.

So many of the Psalms are written inspired by this desire to know why life goes against us at times.

Psalm 130 has the Psalm writer crying out to God - Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord.

Job wondered why he was suffering even though he was so faithful to God but wondered - Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? (Job 21:7)

So too, Jeremiah struggled: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? (Jeremiah 12:1)

It is a difficult understanding why an all-powerful, all loving God allows or at least doesn’t prevent evil to succeed.

But, sadly, that is the world we not only live in but a world we asked upon ourselves by our disobedience in the beginning when the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil was allowed to enter into our existence.

God’s good creation was interrupted by evil when Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened to see and experience the existence of evil.

And part of that evil was the introduction of death, as God warned Adam:

You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16, 17)

But what Jesus does here in John’s Gospel is show that death, which came by the knowledge of good and evil, was not going to be the final word.

Jesus says to Martha:

 “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 doesn’t deny that death is part of the human life now, but he says – even though they die, they will live.

John’s Gospel sees Jesus as the coming of a new creation where the darkness of evil is overcome by Jesus’ light.

That’s why John’s Gospel begins the same as Genesis: “In the beginning”.

Genesis reads: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

John’s Gospel reads: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same Word that created the world – let there be light – now becomes the word that became flesh and dwelt among us as God’s light in darkness – and the darkness could not overcome the light of Christ.

So God deals with death and evil not by removing them but by not allowing them the final word.

Because of our free will God had to allow Good and Evil to coincide, including death, but God immediately set in plan a redemption – a saviour – who would crush the head of death and evil that was snapping at our heels and overcome it. (Genesis 3:15).

It’s interesting that while Genesis Chapter 3 outlines the fall of Adam and Eve – John Chapter 3 overcomes it with the Gospel that God loved the world so much that he sent his Son so that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The world is filled with experiences where we can ask – where is God in this.

If Jesus were here this wouldn’t have happened.

That simply isn’t true otherwise there would be no need for heaven.

The reality is that in this world we’re going to experience the consequences of the knowledge of Good and Evil.

The difference is that these will not be the final word for those who believe in Jesus’ Christ – the resurrection and the life..

Jesus speaks the last word just as he spoke to the tomb that had held Lazarus when he said; “Lazarus, come out!”

Jesus shows that not even death has the final word which to many is just that.

Without Jesus, death is death.

Without Jesus death is the final word.

The raising of Lazarus is the last sign or miracle that Jesus does in John’s gospel.

Everything has been leading up to this last miracle because it is the one that affects us all.

We won’t all experience some of the conditions that Jesus healed – blindness, leprosy, hunger – but all of us must face the reality of death.

And here Jesus shows that death must submit to his authority even though it would appear that death has the final word.

Jesus doesn’t remove death from our lives but he ensures us that death is not the end.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life and whoever believes in him, even though they die, they shall live.

So Mary and Martha weren’t correct in their statement.

Even if Jesus had been there Lazarus still would have died – perhaps not on that occasion but certainly later at the end of life, as the book of Hebrews says in Chapter 9, verse 27: “people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment”.

Jesus didn’t linger before going because of a lack of compassion.

It was widely believed in Jesus’ culture that the spirit of the person would hover for 3 days.

Allowing for 4 days in the tomb assured people that Lazarus was well and truly dead.

Death had done its worse to Lazarus and Jesus overrode it.

So it’s not that Jesus’ presence would have prevented Lazarus death but his presence assures Lazarus and all of us of eternal life after death.

It doesn’t deny the pain of death when someone we love dies.

Even Jesus’ himself who is the resurrection and the life cannot hold back his emotion and weeps at the death of his dear friend.

So this is not downplaying death but reassuring us that the one who has defeated death also has compassion for us in the midst of death as we have our high priest who sympathises with us having experienced death himself and the death of a loved one.

So it is to Jesus and only Jesus that we look to in death and suffering as only Jesus can offer that hope that death is not the final word but the one who is the Word of God is the final word.