March 22, 2026

John 11:17-53

God does not work on our schedule. What we see as tragedy God is working. This is what faith is about. God always has our best interests in mind. Just like God’s people, we as the new Israel, show God’s glory when we show our love to others. After Jesus had said what He said concerning Lazarus, He went on to tell them, our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up. Some might think Jesus is talking about a euphemism of sleep. But what Jesus and followers of Jesus death is no more than a mere nap. In Mark, Jesus has this to say about a young girl who died, why are you making a commotion, the child is not dead, but sleeping. The apostle Paul said about those who appeared to Jesus after the resurrection, then He appeared to 500 brothers at one time, most are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Our Lord and Savior had a purpose for what He did for Lazarus, He showed He had mastery over death to those who believed in Him.

We have many words to describe death today one of them is, kicking the bucket. For us who follow the Good Shepherd know that death is no more than a nap, because Our Lord when He comes He has promised to wake us up so that we can be with Him for eternity. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life the one who believes in Me will live, even though they die. And those who believe in Me will never die. Do you believe this? Jesus may seem to be rebuking Martha, but He’s not. Jesus use of the word resurrection is one Martha is familiar with, but in her thinking it is the last day. Jesus is telling Martha, He is the Last day that Martha is looking forward to.   This statement of Jesus is a claim of divinity. Only the Creator can create a life where there is none. The question He asks Martha is the same question He asks us, do we believe this? Do you believe this? We confess in the creed, that at the end of time Jesus will come to raise the dead at the end of time. Now we know Lazarus coming to life is not the true resurrection, Lazarus will die again, just as others were raised during Christ’s ministry….the young man, the young girl will also die. But if they believe in Christ they will rise in glory, the glory gained by Christ on the cross.

Take away the stone. But, the sister said, by this time there is a bad odor. Martha believes with all of her heart that Jesus is the Messiah and she believes that her brother will be raised on the last day. but Lazarus has been dead four days and has began to rot. To be raised on this day, was beyond her expectations.

Death is still the thing we still fear the most in our lives. Death does not care who you are or how much you are worth. Or your ethnicity. Death is our due because we are sinners. But we are redeemed in Christ, so we don’t have to fear death. It doesn’t mean we won’t be sad. We will miss them, but you will see believers again.

Jesus said, did I not tell you, you will see the glory of God? Jesus delay was to show the glory of God. To show Martha and Mary and the gathered not only the power of God but to show who the Christ was before the resurrection to guarantee that whoever believes in Him will never die but will live with Him forever.

It can be hard, Christ is with us. We will all face death, but we believe we will see the glory of God when He comes to raise us from the dead. Many Jews believed in Him but some went to the Pharisees and told them what He had done. There was a schism among them, while the resurrection was fantastic news, it’s not well received by everyone. Many believed He was the Messiah, but those who were there who did not believe knew the Pharisees wanted to know what was happening. And this passage serves as a turning point. The factions were now going to take action against Him. And as unfair as it sounds they were plotting, our good Shepherd did not come to earth to perform miracles. Jesus came to save a world that could not save itself. It should not be surprising that the world would want to try to stop Him. But because of the father’s love for His creation, He was willing to sacrifice His own Son for a world that does not always love Him. Then one of them, Caiphas, who was high priest that year spoke up, you know nothing at all, you do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.

The rest of the Pharisees could not figure out just what to do with Jesus. As the crowd was gathering around Him. They worried about Rome and what would they do if the Jesus movement started to rise. Caiphus understood the risks at stake. He knew, he thought he knew, that it’d be better that Jesus died than the whole nation perish. Now you’ve got to love good irony. He was so wrong, yet so right that’s it’s ironic. One man should die so the whole nation doesn’t perish. And he was right, he was just wrong about who was being saved. He was right that Christ should die on the cross innocently so that the whole of Creation would live. Caiphus, priests and scribes and Pharisees thought they controlled the situation. They did not and they never did. God had a plan and He executed it to perfection. One man would die so that all could live forever if they believed in His Son.  So from that day on, they plotted to take His life. There was no longer any doubt that Jesus had to die, it was only a matter of figuring out how to do it. And the opportunity would present itself when Jesus goes to Jerusalem. He will be betrayed, judged and beaten and nailed to a cross. And those who plotted His death will feel triumphant, but they are wrong! Jesus will be triumphant in three days when He rises from the grave triumphant over death and hell. And those who believe in Him, death will be no more than a nap.

As we prepare for Palm Sunday, we remember all these things had to come to pass for our salvation. Jesus had to be put to death so that we might live. But that’s what a good Shepherd does. A good shepherd would die for His sheep. And this is the best news we will ever get in the rest of our lives. At this time of year we should be joyful for a gift we did not deserve. We can’t achieve it, only receive it through faith in this….I am the resurrection and the life, though He die yet shall He live. And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? In the name of Jesus Amen.