Lectionary for Lent 5
Out of the depths I cry to you – O Lord, hear my voice! With God there is steadfast love, and great power to redeem. Psalm 130:1-2, 7
Collect. Loving God our Father, we see your compassion revealed in the tears of Jesus for Lazarus his friend. Look today upon the distress of your Church, mourning and praying for your children dead in their sins. By the power of your Spirit call them back to life. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading. Romans 8:6-11. These few verses are tightly argued but Paul lays out two alternatives; death in the flesh or life in the Spirit. Simple! Not really!
There is an opening phrase in the funeral service which says “While death is the end of mortal life, it marks a new beginning in our relationship with God” {Uniting in Worship} Death marks a transition from the physical to the eternal. Once death has come there is nothing physical that we can do. Paul begins with the premise that due to the fall. our human nature has separated us from God, as he says our human nature is hostile toward God. We may not feel that to be so but that is the reality. In that sense we can do nothing which in any way will endear us to God. Indeed we are dead to God, even while we are alive! There is therefore nothing we can do because we are dead to God.
However, God fully understands our situation and that is why out of his love for us Jesus came to live our life in a sinless way. Jesus died as we all will but God called Jesus back from death and so Jesus lives eternally. The Spirit of God which raised Jesus from death now lives in every Christian and it is this same Spirit which gives new eternal life to each believer. In this new life we are now alive to God, linked in Him through Jesus.
It is as we consider this new status that Paul’s warning comes into place. Now with this new life in us it is imperative that we follow the leading of the Spirit and live in obedience to God. Keeping close to God is what keeps us faithful. Our own designs and desires need to be in keeping with the guidance and direction that the Spirit gives to us. The resurrection of Jesus has brought about an amazing transition from death to eternal life. However, this transition is not a once for all event but marks a new beginning; a new birth into a new life. Just as a new life has to be nurtured and nourished, so our new life needs to be allowed to grow and develop, and we do this by constantly following the guidance of the Spirit. Our status has changed and the Spirit now lives in us and as we follow the guidance of the Spirit so we are able to please God and enjoy a life of peace.
Prayer. Lord you are the giver of the life eternal and so we turn to find guidance and help. Grant that through the decisions of today we will always look to you first in order to find our true way. So by your grace, may our walk be always with you in the light of your Holy Spirit. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God and Father of us all, we praise you for your infinite love in calling us to be a Holy people, a royal priesthood, a universal church; and in giving us your son Jesus Christ our Lord to be the head of the church and the shepherd of our souls. We thank you that by his death he has overcome death and having ascended into heaven has abundantly poured forth his gifts; making some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers; to equip your people for the work of ministry and the building up of the body. May we as your servants, use your gifts wisely and grow in grace day by day. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. (Adapted from The Methodist Prayer Book, 1975)
Reading. John 11:1-45. It is important to read this passage from John’s Gospel with extra care for he has woven many teaching points in his recounting of the raising of Lazarus. As we read we remember that John does not talk about miracles but always about signs. Thus the raising of Lazarus is from John’s perspective a sign of the power and the glory of Jesus the risen Lord. We remember that John is writing long after Jesus’ ascension and so his eyewitness account is aimed at teaching the church in order to help them have greater confidence in all that Jesus has accomplished.
All through his description John highlights the compassion as well as the divine understanding of Jesus as he ministers to this family that he loves. Jesus remains two more days after he has heard that Lazarus is ill before returning to Judea. It is a reminder that God is not our servant, there to help us just when we need him. Rather we are his servants there to serve him. At the same time we need to remember that God is never slow to respond to us but will always answer at “just the right time”. (Isaiah 49:8) Our urgency though does not hurry God for God knows when the time is right!
Jesus reminds his disciples of the need to do God’s work, “while there is still light”. Sometimes the urgency of the moment can take us away from the things of God. Sometimes a particular opportunity to serve only comes once and we do need to be ready. (Hebrews 10:23). Then he reminds them that his delay in going had a purpose, “so that you will really believe”. In other words it is important that his disciples understand what is happening in order to strengthen their faith, a faith which needs to be passed on to others.
Both Martha and Mary recognise that if Jesus had been there Lazarus would not have died, but Jesus was not there and so Lazarus did die. This leads John to his great statement that even in death Jesus is the “resurrection and the life”. Despite his greatness and his power when he goes to view Lazarus’s tomb he weeps at the experience of death. Death is so final, irrevocable, and yet Jesus speaks through the tears and opens the tomb. Despite the families misgivings Jesus gives thanks and calls Lazarus out from the tomb and back into life. Lazarus is unbound to find new life. The end of John’s description ends with the amazing return to life of Lazarus who now lives again despite the grief and sadness. Once again John is declaring that Jesus is Lord, furthermore he is lord even over life and death.
Prayer. Holy and gracious God, we thank you that Jesus is the Lord of both the living and the dead. That he alone has the power to restore to life that which is lost for he is the great Redeemer. We lift our hands and our hearts to give you all thanks and praise. Grant to us the patience and trust to be ready to wait always on him and in all situations be enabled to live each fully in his service. You Lord, are a God of justice and mercy; help us to act both justly and mercifully in all our dealings. May we delight to do your will. We pray for those who suffer from injustice in our world. In particular we pray for those who are denied justice in our own country. Those imprisoned without just cause, those who are too poor to find legal representation, and those whose life experience turns them away from the avenues of help that are available. Help us not to be unaware but to see injustice and work by your grace to help and heal. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Collect. O God, source and energy of all life, your Son is the resurrection and the life yet he wept in the face of death. Give us confidence in Christ both in life and in death, for he lives and reigns, one God with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
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