I am the Resurrection and the Life

A sermon by Currie Burris

John 11:1-44

March 13, 2005

Ominous clouds are forming as we begin this story about Jesus and Lazarus. Many people are responding to Jesus, many have come to believe that he is the messiah, the son of the living God. But many also are resisting him. Many of the Pharisees and religious leaders are angered and threatened by his teaching and the signs and wonders he is giving. After he opens the eyes of the man born blind, they denounce him and begin to plan and organize a way to get rid of him. They oppress any one who follows Jesus. Just before these events today, Jesus narrowly escapes death when a crowd gathers to stone him. Jesus slips away, but it is clear that events are moving to the place where he will be arrested, tried and killed.

Then Jesus hears the news that Lazarus, the one that all know that Jesus loves, is very sick, so sick that he soon may die. This Lazarus is the brother of Mary we are told, the same Mary who will, just a few chapters away, take out expensive perfume and anoint Jesus’ feet. Then while the whole house is filled with the aroma, she will take down her hair, and dry his feet. It is not the perfume of celebration, but the ointment of burial.  She knows his death is coming, and in love, she prepares his body for what is to come.

Jesus hears that Lazarus is nearing death, and yet he lingers.  He does not go right away. It seems that he believes that Lazarus will not die, but that is not what he says. He says this illness will not end, finish, with death. Jesus knows Lazarus will die, but he also knows he will rise again. But then he says, “Let’s go back to Judea.”  The disciples are afraid. Going back to Judea will mean death. Jesus speaks about night and day, and Lazarus sleeping and waking up. They are confused, afraid, looking for a way not to go back to a place that means death.

Then Jesus makes it clear. Lazarus is dead and, we are going to him. The disciple Thomas steps up. Most remember him as the one who doubted after Jesus’ resurrection.  But here he is the courageous one. “Let us also go,” he says, “that we might also die with him.” But what does Thomas mean here? Go and die with Jesus” or “Go and die with Lazarus”? He is courageous in facing death, but it is death he faces, not life. He remains immersed in the cloud of death surrounding them all.

Jesus arrives in Bethany to discover that Lazarus is already dead, in the tomb for four days. Mary and Martha’s house is subsumed with mourning. Weeping, grief, pain, hurt. Martha runs to meet Jesus. In her sorrow she lashes out at Jesus, “If you had been here my brother would not have died!” He will live again, says Jesus. Martha thinks he is talking about life after death, the time when all in God will rise again. But Jesus says he will live now.  Jesus is the presence of life—rich life, true life, everlasting life—right now. “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who are dead will live again, and those who are living will never die. Do you believe this?”  “Yes” says Martha.

Jesus shares a similar exchange with Mary. He sees Mary, and all those with her, weeping. Then we are told he was deeply moved, troubled in spirit. The English words do not express the full meaning. The Greek has the feeling of anger, anguish, torment of the soul. Lazarus whom he loved is dead. Mary and Martha whom he loves are torn apart and in their grief they blame him. His soul is throbbing in pain. He asks, “Where have you laid him?” And when they point to the place, Jesus breaks. He begins to weep—not just moist eyes—but deep, gut wrenching sobs, heart breaking wails. He falls to his knees; he buries his face. He cries out. Jesus wept. Now all around him, even his enemies, would say, “See how he loved him.”

Then Jesus commands, “Take away the stone.” Some protest. It has been four days. There is an odor. “Take away the stone.” Then Jesus prays — a prayer of thanks — that through this sign all who see it might believe, that all who experience this new life might receive new life for themselves.

“Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out. “Unbind him, and let him go!”

Many did believe after this. But this sign of power was the final stroke for those who plotted against him. It is a direct line from Lazarus’ walk out of the tomb, to Jesus’ walk to the cross. Light and life have come into the world, and the world seeks to snuff it out.

Over the next two weeks, we will walk with Jesus.  From the grand entry into Jerusalem, to the final supper with his disciples, to the betrayal in the garden, the flogging, the trial, and finally to the cross itself, we will walk with Jesus. But the power of death, which overtook Lazarus, which will take Jesus to the cross, is not the end. Lazarus was raised. And Jesus rose again on the third day. The power of death was broken. New life is real. New life is in Christ.

We all are Lazarus. Today, we all are Lazarus. We are not dead, but someday we will die.  We are not dead, but even today we are dying. The clouds of death loom ominously around us.  The smell of death rises. We are pursued by spiritual death long before our bodies die. We are haunted by closed doors, by dead ends, by empty days and hollow nights. Confusion reigns. We are pressed down by fear, pressed down by the weight of bitterness and hatred. We are consumed by sin, chained by guilt, chased by loneliness and desperation.  We are bound up by lies and wrapped by jealousy and envy. We are afraid and threatened by life itself. There is no way out. The stone covers the cave.

And then the voice rings out. “Take away the stone.”  We couldn’t do it for ourselves. It would not happen until the words are said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Live again!” And that which was dead and dying, lives again. We, who are lost in our own way, are found. And then he said, “Do you believe?”  “Yes, I believe.”

“Then unbind her. Let her out!  Unbind him, let him out!” Take off the clothing of death; let the light of life shine in the darkness of your hearts. “Unbind them all. Let them out!”