The Road to Easter: The Day that Jesus Lingered
(KJV) John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
Generally, when using John 11 as a basis for a sermon or devotional, we look at Jesus’ humanity which caused Him to grieve for Lazarus and his sisters. We focus on the miraculous resurrection event along with the implications of such an event. Today, however, let’s look at this verse a little differently.
We know that Jesus was close friends with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He had visited them in their home in Bethany on more than one occasion. They were so close, in fact, that, in Luke 10, Martha feels at ease chastising Him for allowing Mary to sit at His feet while Martha is left to do all of the work.
But in this instance, we see sisters in need of their friend. Yet, instead of Jesus rushing to their side, He tarries.
While the disciples had witnessed the miracle of resurrection previously, in this instance Lazarus had been dead four days. There was a well known belief that the spirit lingered for three days, and thus it was possible for life to return to the body at any time within that time frame. So why did Jesus wait?
1. He waited until no one could claim that Lazarus was not really dead, thereby discounting the miracle of resurrection.
2. He knew that His own death was imminent and He wanted to provide assurance that just as He had authority to raise Lazarus, that He, too, would be raised.
3. This event would serve to give glory to God because of the way it unfolded.
Along with these points, I always like to mention that Jesus was not limited by time and space. He could have healed Lazarus without ever leaving Jerusalem. But it was important that the bystanders knew without a doubt that Jesus was responsible for this miracle.
And of course we hear one of Jesus’ “I AM”, statements when He declares to Martha, and then to Mary, “I AM the resurrection and the life.” Jesus needed to make the point that the resurrection was not an event, but a Person.
And when He said “remove those grave clothes,” Jesus was not simply declaring Lazarus had been dead and buried and was now alive. He was saying we cannot live the same, old, sinful life once we have been made alive in Christ. And who would want to???
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Road to Easter: Meet the Good Shepherd
(NIV)John 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Oh, how I love this 10th chapter of John. Previous to these verses, Jesus had said “I am the good shepherd,” establishing for the Pharisees His legitimacy as the One who leads and lays down His life for the Church. But the Pharisees failed to understand.
So, Jesus removed any confusion by clarifying He was not only the Shepherd who cares for the sheep, He was the gate through which they enter. The entrance, the way, the only way— how awesome is that!
Jesus emphasizes that others try to lure the sheep away. But, once you have heard the voice of the Master, none other will satisfy.
He then finishes by contrasting His mission with that of the counterfeit shepherd. When reading this Scripture I like to say the thief comes to kill our joy, to steal our enthusiasm and to destroy our witness. But Jesus offers abundant life.
Why would we choose any One, any Way, but Him?
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Road to Easter: My Yoke is Easy
(NIV) Matt 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
How many of us first learned this verse in Vacation Bible School? Yokes were used for oxen or other beasts of burden. When two animals were paired together it made the load easier, and they were easier to control.
Yokes also signified instruments of servitude. So, you can see why people would not willingly submit to wearing a yoke.
In Jesus’ example, He is offering to share our load, thus making our work easier. He offers to teach us, and, if we put our trust in him, we will find rest.
The Pharisees burdened the people with unfair laws, but Jesus came to set the captives free. Isn’t that wonderful?
For one who has lived on this earth as long as I, the prospect of rest is like offering water to one who is so parched he cannot swallow. When we become Christ followers we willingly agree to take on the yoke of Jesus, knowing we can trust Him completely and He will never fail us.
As Louisa W. R. Stead wrote in 1882, “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
May we experience the rest found only in Jesus as we continue on our journey toward the Cross.
In the name of the Father, and if the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Road to Easter: Why Do You Call Me Lord?
(NIV)Luke6: 46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
As we continue on the road to Easter, our Lenten journey necessarily includes Jesus’ admonition “if you call me Lord, you need to do what I say.” Sounds simple, right? Jesus had just taught His disciples and the crowd about discipleship. It was vital that those listening to Jesus understand the full meaning behind being a disciple.
Ray Vander Laan is the current director of Focus on the Family. I became acquainted with his works when our former pastor at Asbury UMC, Dr. Brian Fink, taught a class on discipleship. He taught us about intentional discipleship and used the writings and videos from Vander Laan who encouraged us to walk so close behind Jesus that the dust from His sandals would be kicked up on our feet! Oh how I love that.
When we become intentional in our discipleship we begin to understand there is a level beyond salvation where we are required to acknowledge and accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The example Jesus gave was the need to build a deep foundation upon a rock. The solid rock, and that rock is Jesus. It is the same with us.
“ On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand…”
As we draw closer to Easter, may we draw closer to Jesus. May we choose the pathway of righteousness, or right-standing, never veering to the left or the right. May we call Jesus Lord, Master, and do what He says.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Road to Easter: Jesus Eats with Sinners
(NRSV) Matt 9:10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
Don’t you sometimes just want to sit the Pharisees down and say, “Picky, picky, picky.”
I am not surprised that, just like today, social activities in Jesus’ time took place around the table. In this account, we see that Jesus had just called Matthew, a tax collector, to become a disciple.
Tax collectors were among the most feared and hated of society, but Jesus was not one to follow societal norms. Where others would shun Matthew, Jesus welcomed him, and not only Matthew but Scripture says many tax collectors and sinners were with him.
I understand how a person was identified as a tax collector. They set up booths to conduct their business so they were readily recognizable.
But I have to wonder how the Pharisees knew there were sinners at the table? Did they wear a large letter “S” pinned to their clothing? Aren’t we all sinners saved by Grace?
I love that Jesus did not enter in to a debate with the religious men, but instead acknowledged the sinful condition of those at the table with the statement “those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” He then referenced the Old Testament book of Hosea, emphasizing that rituals without love were meaningless.
As we draw closer to Easter, may we understand that Jesus called each of us while we were sinners, but He did not leave us in our sinful state.
And I offer this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Seeking Holiness 