March 26, 2023
Rev. Mary Erickson
Hope Lutheran Church
Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 11:1-45
The Limits of Our Understanding
Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Eagles have incredible vision. As compared to our 20/20 vision, eagles have 20/5 vision. That means that they can see clearly at 20 feet what we’re able to see at 5 feet. But their incredible vision goes even farther.
Their eyes are situated in such a way that they still have binocular vision, but they also have much greater peripheral vision. Our scope of vision is limited to 180 degrees, but an eagle’s is 340 degrees. And there’s even more.
Eagles can see more deeply into the range of colors. They see more deeply into the red range on the one end. And at the other end of the color spectrum, they’re able to discriminate more deeply into the ultraviolet range.
It’s no wonder we use the term “eagle eyes.”
We have definite limits to our physical vision. There’s also a limit to our spiritual perception. St. Paul put it this way: “For now we see through a mirror, dimly; but then we shall see face to face.” In this finite, earthly plane, some things are just beyond our ken. But when we enter into eternity, then we’ll perceive and understand in full.
As Jesus’ ministry progressed, people’s understanding of who he is continued to develop. The pieces built upon each other to create a deeper picture of his identity.
• His awesome birth: Mary pondered many marvelous things in her heart.
• When Jesus began his ministry, his first sign was to turn water into wine. People took notice.
• Through his profound preaching, people noted that Jesus spoke as one with authority. They marveled at his wisdom and flocked to hear him.
• When he calmed the raging sea, his disciples asked, “Who is this, whom even the wind and the sea obey?”
• Jesus healed many persons of their infirmities. But when he healed a man who was born blind, that was just mind blowing.
Through all these things, people were confronted with the question, who is this guy? Who is this? Who can do this?
They began to expostulate. Is he a new prophet in our midst? Is he Elijah returned? Could he be the long-awaited Messiah? At each turn, their understanding of Jesus expanded.
In today’s story, the raising of Lazarus, their understanding of Jesus will again expand.
Lazarus is Jesus’ dear friend. He’s the brother of sisters Martha and Mary. Lazarus becomes critically ill. Sister Martha sends a message to Jesus letting him know of Lazarus’ condition.
But Jesus’ response seems negligent, almost callous. Jesus stays put! Two full days go by before Jesus responds.
How that must have felt for poor Martha, Mary and Lazarus! They had their hopes pinned on Jesus’ swift arrival. The passage of time must have been agonizing.
We can feel this, too, when we pray. Something weighs heavily on our hearts. We lift it up in prayer, and then, crickets. Nothing. In our limited vision of God’s vast mind, we wonder: Where are you, God? Are you listening? Even Jesus felt this way as he hung on the cross: God, why have you abandoned me?
So two days go by, and then, FINALLY Jesus gets up. And Jesus knows the score. He knows full well that Lazarus is dead. It’s like he purposely waited until Lazarus passed.
Jesus intends to expand the understanding of who he is. This isn’t going to be just another healing. He’s going to stretch the boundaries. This time, he’s going to resurrect someone from the dead.
By the time Jesus and his disciples arrive in Bethany, Lazarus, dear Lazarus, has already been in his tomb for four days.
When he arrives, a series of discussions occur. First with sister Martha. Martha says, “Lord, if you had been here, by brother would not have died.”
Martha had her hopes pinned on Jesus’ prompt arrival. She knew he had healed many an affliction. If only Jesus had come in time, Lazarus could have been healed! But Lazarus passed, and now it’s too late. Game over. This is beyond the scope of Jesus’ healing powers.
Jesus tries to expand her thinking. He tells her, “Martha, your brother will rise again.” And she answers in the way we do with our limited understanding.
“Yes, Jesus, I know that he will live again in the sweet by and by. He’ll rise again on the last day when the new world is ushered in.”
This is as far as her vision can go. Jesus wants to expand her understanding. He is Lord of so much more than earthly disease. He’s the Lord of life. He says, “Martha, I AM the resurrection, and the life. Do you believe this? Can you grasp this?”
Conversation number two. Jesus meets sister Mary. And Mary expresses exactly the same thing Martha said. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Mary’s understanding is the same as Martha’s. Jesus possesses tremendous divine powers. But there’s a limit to it. It reaches so far and no farther. And death is the limit. Jesus may be able to heal a sick man, but not one who’s been dead for four full days.
Conversation number three: the mourners. They speak among themselves with “if onlys.” If only he’d gotten here in time. Couldn’t the man who opened the eyes of the man born blind have prevented Lazarus from dying?
In all three instances there was a definite limit to their understanding. Jesus could only do so much! And death was the defining limit.
The same predicament stood before the prophet Ezekiel. God showed him a vast boneyard. It held the cumulative assembly of all of Israel’s dead. The people of Israel were currently languishing in exile in Babylon. Would they ever return to their homeland? Would this once great and chosen nation be restored? Or was Ezekiel part of the last generation of Israel?
In his dream, God asks Ezekiel, “Mortal,” meaning, one who is going to die, one who will some day join this vast pile of bones, “Mortal, can these bones live?”
Can they live? Is there hope for Israel? Ezekiel knows what he does not know. He answers with great wisdom and humility, “Lord God, YOU know.” Ezekiel looks to one with greater vision than his own.
Divine wisdom knows. Since Jesus first learned of Lazarus’ condition, he responded as one who possesses greater wisdom and vision. And it’s his intent to expand the perception of who people understand him to be.
Jesus now orders the tomb to be opened. Sister Martha reminds Jesus there will be an odor after four days.
Jesus reminds her, “Didn’t I tell you, Martha? Didn’t I say that you were about to see glory?” The stone is rolled from the tomb. Then Jesus calls out to Lazarus, “Come out!”
Will these bones live? You know, O Lord!
A newly breathing Lazarus emerges from the tomb, and with that, the reach of Jesus’ divine power becomes evident to everyone who witnesses the sign. The scope of Jesus’ reach spans beyond the merely sick; it includes even raising the dead.
Only one thing could possibly be an even more marvelous sign. It’s one matter to raise someone else from the dead. But what if someone were able to raise himself from the dead? Now that would really be something.
