March 9, 2008
Lent 5
Part 4 of “What Does Jesus Mean” series
Jesus Means We Can Live A New Life
We are beginning the fifth week of Lent — the six week season of the Church year before Easter when we spend time reflecting on the death of Christ for our sins – what that means for us – and how we can respond to it and live our lives differently because of what God has done for us through the life – death – and yes – resurrection of Christ.
We have noted that Lent is observed in many ways by Christians.
For some it’s a time to give up things they are doing that they know is wrong or not good for them.
For others it as a time of increased attention to the spiritual disciplines of study of scripture, prayer, worship, service, and even fasting.
The six weeks before Easter have traditionally been used as a time for teaching those who will join the church on Easter Sunday.
Now — all these things are good.
But — we can always give up things that are wrong or not good for us – and we should do this. God can even strengthen us to do this. But – you know what? We don’t have to wait until Lent to do it!
And – we can always pay more attention to our spiritual disciplines of study of scripture, prayer, worship, and service. God can even give us strength to do this. But — again — we don’t have to wait until Lent to do it!
And – yes – Season of Lent is a good time for what we in the Presbyterian tradition call Confirmation Classes for young people who are ready to join the Church. We had 12 of our young people go through Confirmation Classes and join the Church last year – and next year it may be time to do that again.
But – for this year – for this Lent — I want us to take a look at some things that I believe Jesus means for us as Christians.
What are some things that Jesus means to you?
What are some things that Jesus can mean to you?
What are some things that Jesus can mean for how you live your life?
These are some of the questions we are going to be considering as we go through this season of Lent.
What are some things that Jesus means to you?
What are some things that Jesus can mean to you?
What are some things that Jesus can mean for how you live your life?
Four weeks ago we looked at one of the most fundamental things that Jesus means to us as we looked Genesis 2: 15-17, 25-3:7, Romans 5:12-18, and Matthew 4:1-11. – and saw how Jesus means we are given another chance.
Three weeks ago we looked at Genesis 12:1-4 (a) and John 3:1-17 – and saw how Jesus means that we can change.
Last week we are looked at John 9:1-12 and 24-41 – and saw how Jesus means that we can see things differently.
Today we are going to look at John 11:1-7, 17-43 – and we will see how Jesus means that we can have a new life.
I want to tell you a story today.
It’s a story about a man we’ll call Joe
Joe is a typical, middle – aged, middle-class male. Someone we all can all identify with – for if we are not like him ourselves we know many who are.
He works eight hours a day at a good job. He keeps up a nice home. Every night, he eats supper with his wife and puts his daughter to bed. He is an active member of a Civic Club and a Church. He and his family vacation at the beach every summer. You might say he has a lot going for him.
But — every morning — he curses the alarm clock for making him face another day.
And he wonders why.
One day he gets his answer.
While walking through town he practically has to step over a drunk lying on the sidewalk. About the same time he spots a twelve-year old boy he knows.
“What’s happening?”
the boy asks.
“Nothing”
Joe replies.
Then Joe hears the voice of the drunk behind him:
“Yea — me too!”
How terrible — Joe thinks — it is when you live your life — but feel that absolutely nothing is happening.
Now — you may wonder what in the world this story has to do with our text for today. We’re looking at Lazarus – and how Jesus raised him from the dead.
Joe was not dead — was he?
He may have been bored with life — but not dead .
But – what does the raising of Lazarus mean?
Why do we remember this particular miracle performed by Jesus?
Because the vision is miraculous?
Because the miracle is so miraculous?
Are we to read the story of Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life and marvel at how Jesus did it?
Yes — Jesus raising Lazarus from death to life is a miracle.
But – the story of Jesus giving life to Lazarus must go much deeper than the miraculous. There must be a deeper meaning.
So — what else is here for us?
Well — what else is there for Joe?
Is it the message of eternal life?
Yea – maybe that’s it!
Maybe we’re to see Lazarus rising from the dead — and know of our salvation and the promise of our eternal life.
Well – that indeed is part of it.
But — again —
Is life after death the only thing God is trying to tell us in the rising of Lazaus?
Is that all we are to see in this story?
Is it just about the glorious fact that God promises life after death?
Is this passage — and others like it — simply saying:
“Hold on.
Keep the faith.
And some day — when you die — it will all be better.”
Is that God’s only message to us here?
Is that the only message to Joe ?
Is that all Jesus meant when He told Martha:
“I am the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
Or — is there still something else here in this story?
Something about how God gives us the ability to live a new life – here and now?
Something about the love of God that promises new life —
the love Christ showed in giving new life to Lazarus –
the love of Christ that can offer new life and real hope to Joe –
the love of Christ that can offer real hope and new life to all of us –
the love and new life God offers to us through Christ —
the love of God that can give us new life – that can “unbind” us and “set us free” —
the love of God that gives us new life and new hope —
not only in life after death — but hope here — and now — in this life?
The “something else” is that Jesus means that we can have a new life.
Jesus means we can have a new life.
Jesus means that we can have a new life.
“I am the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
What does the story of Joe have to do with the raising of Lazarus?
Well, Joe has always heard that life is a great gift.
But sometimes — he wonders.
His days are filled with drugery.
It takes all the energy he has just to get through them.
Finding ways just to pass the time becomes a primary concern for him.
What he really wants to do is escape.
For some — life is a physical ordeal and a physical struggle.
For others — it’s not that it’s a physical ordeal and struggle as much as it is that life just seems empty and meaningless. They may be well-off, but not living well.
You know what I’m talking about.
That’s how Joe is.
Maybe it’s how you are.
They live lives that may have goals — but no overiding sense of purpose. They feel they need something else in their lives — but they don’t know what it is — much less how to get it.
What do you think Joe would make out of the raising of Lazarus?
He might assume that Lazarus — safe in his tomb – had all the worries of life behind him. He is safe and sound in whatever comes after this life. And then Jesus comes along and ruins it. He raises Lazarus from the dead. He brings Lazarus back to life.
Joe may know that Lazarus has no need of being raised back to a life of “business as usual”.
But that’s not the point.
It was not the point for Jesus and Lazarus.
It’s not the point for Joe.
It’s not the point for us.
So — what is the point?
The point is that – here – and now –
Jesus means we can have a new life.
Jesus means that we can have a new life.
“I am the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
The point is that Jesus is not just the resurrection and the life after death –
The point is that Jesus does not just give hope for the future — but that Jesus offers new life — here and now.
Jesus means we can have a new life.
Jesus means that we can have a new life.
Can this be true?
Can this be true for Joe?
Can his life be made meaningful?
Can Joe be “unbound” and “set free” — as Lazarus was when he emerged from the tomb?
Can Joe be “unbound” from the boredom and lack of real interest in his life — and “set free” to a more meaningful life — a life where true meaning is discovered in God — in Christ — and in others?
Is that possible?
In Christ — it is.
Joe can be freed — by the love of Christ — and given a life that is not “business as usual” — but that is new and exciting — through Christ.
Joe can be have a new relationship with Christ.
Jesus means we can have a new life.
Jesus means that we can have a new life.
You know — this liberation of a life that is “dead” while still alive is even more miraculous than the raising of Lazarus.
“I am the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
Liberated life — real life — life that is “unbound” — and “set free” — is available — through Christ.
Jesus means we can have a new life.
Jesus means that we can have a new life.
That’s great news.
It was great news when Lazarus experienced it.
So — is it great news — for us?
You bet it is!
Don’t we often go through life like Joe?
Don’t you feel sometimes that life has little or no meaning?
Don’t we just — at times — “go through the motions” and never expect anything to change — particularly change for the better?
Aren’t there times you just accept your life for how it is — even is how it is is dull and lifeless and uninteresting?
Too many times we all just accept the fact that real — vital — new life is not an option — we just accept that things in our lives can not be changed — and feel that nothing can liberate us from our dull — or dare I say dead — existance.
Jesus means we can have a new life.
Jesus means that we can have a new life.
“I am the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
Friends — in Jesus Christ — there is hope.
In Jesus Christ — we can live a life that is new – hopeful – hope-filled – and meaningful.
Jesus Christ can give us life with new purpose and new meaning.
Life that is “raised” — “set free” “unbound” — to a life with new hope — new love — new meaning — new purpose.
“Raised” — “set free” — “unbound” to a life with real relationships — real relationships with God — with each other — with others — and with ourselves.
The love of God — the love of Christ — can set us free.
It can give us new life.
It can raise us to new life.
New life with new meaning — here — and now.
Jesus means we can have a new life.
Jesus means that we can have a new life.
There is a story in the book Chicken Soup For The Soul At Work told by Jeff McMullen.
He relates that a number of years ago he had the opportunity to play the character of Ronald McDonald for the McDonald’s Corporation. One of the standard events was “Ronald Day.” One day each month, he visited as many of the community hospitals as possible, bringing a little happiness into a place where no one ever looks forward to going.
He began the job being very proud to be able to make a difference for children and adults who were experiencing some “down time.”
But after awhile he let it get “routine” — and it was no longer “special”. After awhile, he began to dread it.
One day, he was heading down a hallway after a long day in grease paint and on his way home. As he was leaving, he heard a little voice.
“Ronald, Ronald.”
He stopped. The soft little voice was coming through a half-opened door. He pushed the door open and saw a young boy, about five years old, lying in his dad’s arms, hooked up to more medical equipment than he had ever seen. Mom was on the other side, along with Grandma, Grandpa and a nurse tending to the equipment.
He knew by the feeling in the room that the situation was grave. He asked the little boy his name – he told him it was Billy – and did a few simple magic tricks for him. As he stepped back to say good-bye, he asked Billy if there was anything else he could do for him.
“Ronald, would you hold me?”
Such a simple request. But Jeff was tired — and not wanting to get any more involved with this boy than he already had.
Billy again asked Jeff to hold him. By this time his heart was screaming “yes!”
Jeff picked up this little wonder of a human being. He was so frail and so scared. They laughed and cried for 45 minutes, and talked about the things that worried him.
Billy was afraid that his little brother might get lost coming home from kindergarten next year, without Billy to show him the way.
He worried that his dog wouldn’t get another bone because Billy had hidden the bones in the house before going back to the hospital, and now he couldn’t remember where he put them.
These are problems to a little boy who knows he is not going home.
On his way out of the room, Jeff gave Mom and Dad his real name and phone number, and said if there was anything the McDonald’s Corporation or he could do, to give him a call and consider it done.
Less than 48 hours later, Jeff received a phone call from Billy’s mom. She informed him that Billy had passed away. She and her husband simply wanted to thank Jeff for making a difference in their little boy’s life — and that he had been a blessing from God for them.
Jeff says that he may have made a difference for Billy – and may have been a blessing from God for him and his family — but that Billy really made a difference for him — and was a much-needed belssing from God for him. No longer did he see his work as “just a job” — but it was special — a gift — a blessing. He was freed from seeing his life as boring to seeing it as meaningful
A new life.
A freed life.
A life with new meaning.
A life with new hope.
A blessed life.
A new life — here and now.
Jesus means we can have a new life.
Jesus means that we can have a new life.
The love of God — the love of Christ — can set us free.
It gave new life to Lazarus.
It can give new life to us.
It can raise us to new life.
New life with new meaning — here — and now. Amen.
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