Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead." For most of us, that is the last word. There is nothing else to say. We silently turn, hugging our family or friends who are with us. We cry and walk out the door. The worst has happened. The grimmest of all grim tragedies has already been enacted. Lazarus is dead. In our modern world, the nurse can go home. The doctor can return to his / her office. Medicines, IV.'s, oxygen tank is turn off and ministering hands are no longer needed.
There hadn’t been a happier home in the little village of Bethany. They had everything a family could possibly need. They had a comfortable home and plenty of good food. More than that, they had a home whose doors were open to many friends, neighbours, and strangers. And there was love there. They loved each other, and they had a love for Jesus. That is a sure foundation for any happy home.
But, Lazarus is dead. The head of the house, the protector, the business manager, the beloved brother could no longer join in their laughter or share their tears. The home which once was among the happiest, is now filled with gloom, darkness, and despair. The light had gone out of their lives. The sun had set. It is Good Friday. Home can never be what it once was.
Their home had always been the place where people would go to sing and dance, and celebrate. They made others feel loved and they rejoiced with others in the village. Opened handed hospitality is what one could expect to find from them. Their home was the preacher's home.
No where on earth was Jesus more at home than when he was with Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Here was a brother to listen, a sister who sat at his feet, and a sister who was the best cook around. What a wonderful place to go! Jesus went there often with his disciples for tea and fellowship. But, all is changed now. Lazarus is dead.
What illness Lazarus' had? We do not know. Be assured, from the first day of his sickness, his two sisters and others nursed him with the most tender and loving care. During his illness, many times the sisters said to one another, "If Jesus would have been here, if Jesus would have been here " The fear that death would cross the door sill before Jesus would come again was emotionally draining.
Why was his illness allowed to take place? Why must Lazarus suffer? Why must death lay hold of him? Why must God allow these sisters to pass through this agony? I am sure that these questions perplexed these two sisters long ago, just as they puzzle us today in our quest for answers.
Like most deaths, when it occurs there are more questions than there are answers. Some may claim, "If Jesus really loved him, he would have been there when his friend was sick." Love does not always do what we want or expect. God does not always do what we want or expect.
Jesus loved these three as special individuals and as part of a special family. Yet Jesus stayed away from them in the hour of their dire need. He loved them; therefore he delayed until Lazarus died.
Jesus stayed away until under-takers prepared the body of Lazarus for burial and put it into the tomb. What a strange event! To put it plainly, "Because Jesus loved them, he stayed away." We would expect just the opposite. We expect the Bible to read, "Jesus loved him, therefore he rushed to go help them." That is what we expect. This is what we want. If we are in the hospital, most of us want our family or pastor there immediately.
Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus; yet he stayed away. That is strange to us. But God, in his infinite wisdom sometimes delays to act, or refuses to act as we want him to act. For most of us, there is nothing more important than life. For God, death is a transition, not the end. Jesus loves us, and there are times he brings us to extreme disappointment or pushes the envelop to its breaking point.
God loves us, but still our love ones die when he could done something. None of that makes sense. The goal of God is not to make sense, but to bring people to faith. The desire of God is not to destroy the body, but to build up the soul. "Why, must this happen?" is a question which not only ran through the mind of Mary and Martha, but us as we remember the sudden death of Andreas year ago.
If only, Jesus had been here, if only, Jesus had been here. Why couldn't things have turned out differently? Why was this tragedy allowed to take place? If God is, all powerful why doesn’t God stop the suffering?
God’s love comes to us through tragedy and grief with his presence. There is something more precious than life, and that is to do the will of God. There is a power greater than death, and that power is in Jesus Christ.
More precious than preserving life, are events which bring others to believe in Jesus Christ. To do God's will is more precious than life. To believe in Jesus Christ is to triumph over death. And, to help others believe in the power of God in Jesus Christ is worth every thing in life. Death has taken its toll, but now, Easter has arrived, four days after Lazarus’ death Jesus came to Lazarus’ grave and said three simple words:
As Jesus gathered with his disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem for the last meal. They discussed the resurrection of Lazarus, and still they did not understand that, the resurrection power was within Jesus. Many times we too fail to see or try to understand Jesus and the power of his resurrection. But I hope that this morning will be different. That we will see, understand, have a new dimension, and a new meaning of Lazarus’ death. Jesus calls us to himself. He is the resurrection and the life. He is the Lord of the universe and comes as the servant of all. He calls us to die with him, that we might have life.
He calls each of us to be a servant, that we might reign with him. He calls us to give ourselves and all we own to his purpose, so we can inherit treasures in heaven. Sin and death are powerful and they stand against us. But, thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ.
The pain those suffering today are feeling over the sudden death of their son Andreas a year ago cannot be taken lightly. They too have said: “If only, Jesus had been here, if only, Jesus had been here”. Or we paid more attention to his needs, or did this or that things could have turned out differently?
There are no pat answers to these whys? The goal of God is not to make sense, but to bring people to faith. The desire of God is not to destroy the body, but to build up the soul. When come to the Lord's Table and hear these words: "Do this in remembrance of me.
" We also receive the promise, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the close of the age." No tragedy, no pain, no tears, no heartache can separate us from the love of God, for he also suffers our tragedy, our pain, cries our tears and experiences our heartache. Trust in the Lord who comes to be with you in our pain, who weeps over us, and gives himself for us to the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen!
Rev. Samuel King-Kabu
August 29, 2004