Lent 5 Yr A
Raising the dead

Introduction

Our lessons begin with the wonderful story of Ezekiel’s dream of the Valley of Dry Bones. In his dream, Ezekiel hears God tell him that, with God, there is nothing that cannot be done, including returning dry bones to life. Hold onto that tidbit, while we look at the remaining scripture.

The psalmist reminds us that we must wait for the Lord to complete his task. In essence, God's time is not our time, so be patient.

The epistle tells what "life" is. Life is more than breath and pulse. Importantly, it is the Spirit of God within each of us. 

John’s gospel is the only gospel to tell the story of Lazarus of Bethany. Upon learning that Lazarus was sick, Jesus chose to delay going to Lazarus’ side so God’s glory could be shown in him. 

And what was God’s glory (putting the scripture together)? The same that had been told in the Valley of Dry Bones: there is nothing that our God cannot do, including bringing the dead back to life. The great comfort here is, since we are not dead, God can work miracles in us too. Further, it will be in God's time. Take a few minutes to read the reflection “Lazarus who?” for more about making “these dry bones live”.

BE ALIVE, BELOVED OF GOD! Comments welcome.

John 11:1-45

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, . . . was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, . . ..” Accordingly, . . . he [Jesus] stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “. . . Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” . . . When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. . . . When Jesus saw her [Mary] weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. . . . Jesus began to weep. . . . Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. . . . Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” . . . “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” . . .  he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

sermons4kids: “We all cry, and I am glad that we have a Savior who weeps too. I am glad that He loves us so much that He hurts when we are hurting. He feels our pain.”