In Jesus Holy Name March 22.2026
Text: John 11:1ff Easter VI Redeemer
“Dead man walking”
There is a recent TV commercial that is trying to sell life insurance I am getting tired of hearing it but it will serve my purpose today.
“Death is not something we talk about in our culture, but we all will die. My Father had a stroke at 61 and died but he had life insurance that took care of my mother. Everyone should buy life insurance, That’s why I have life insurance for my family. Ethos is simple and easy.
M getting tired of it but it provides an opening comment for me today. There Are three important messages for us in this chapter. 1St Its about belief of Mary and Martha and the unbelief of the Pharisees. 2nd We under stand the power of Jesus over death and the giver of eternal life.
Mary, Martha and Lazarus didn’t need life insurance they had Jesus. So when Lazarus became ill they would call Jesus. There were no cell phones, no e mail. So they had to send someone out to find Jesus. Jesus had enjoyed a special friendship with Mary, her sister Martha, and their brother Lazarus. There home was in Bethany, a town of less than two miles east of Jerusalem. When in Jerusalem Jesus would preach, teach, and heal the sick. Then, for rest and renewal, Jesus would retreat to Bethany and enjoy the hospitality and companionship of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. According to Chapter 10 Jesus was near the Jordan where John had been baptizing.. a few miles south of Jerusalem .Bethany is about 2 miles north of Jerusalem
WE know that Jesus has been in weekly battles with the Pharisees and their lack of belief. One of my favorite examples is at the winter feast of Dedication in Jerusalem where Jesus is when Lazarus become ill. John writes: At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, hin the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do lin my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Will they ever believe? WE Will have the answer at the end of this event in Bethany.
Thus we come to chapter 11 the illness, death and restoration of life to Lazarus. Notice I did not say resurrection to life because this not the resurrection when Jesus returns at the end of history. Let me give a little backgrouind.
Meanwhile Lazarus was loosing ground. The sisters were frustrated... When Jesus gets a message its not good news His good friend is in hospice care. He is gravely ill He is dying. After receiving the message, he said: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus has fallen asleep. I am gpoimg there to wake him up.
This story is only in John but there are two other similar stories in Luke (Jarius’ daughter and the son of the widow from Nain were both brought back to life. By Jesus. (John 11:3 NRSV) Mary and Martha knew Jesus could heal their brother. But why is it taking so long for Him to come? Mary and Martha waited and watched the road, expecting Jesus to come quickly. But He did not come. Hours dragged into anxious days. Meanwhile Lazarus was loosing ground. Jesus said to his disciples this sickness will not end in death but God’s Glory so that God’s son may be glorified through it. Jesus stayed two more days. Then after two days Jesus said let’s go back to Judea
Lazares died. Mary, Martha And many friends had come to their house for “Shiva” They knew Lazarus heart had stopped beating They wrapped him in grave clothes and buried him.
Here is the key phrase. Jesus said “Our dear friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. He did not say He died. Jesus said the same words in the home of Jarius. You are familiar with the story.
Jarius had sought out Jesus to heal is very sick daughter. Upon arriving at the house, the house was already filled with mourners crying in grief. When Jews gathered at a families home when someone died it was called “Shiva” Shiva, in the Jewish Culture Meant that people would come and visit for 7 days. , that’s why people were at the home of Jarius. Jesus said she is not dead but asleep´ they of course laughed at him.
The Apostle Paul uses the same phrase in I Thessalonians “ We Do not want you to be ignorant about those who have fallen asleep” or grieve like the rest of humanity that have no hope. We know that Jesus died and rose from death, so we know that God will bring with Jesus when he returns those who have fallen asleep. Jesus has power over human death. It is important to note that both Lazarus and Jairus’ daughter would have their heartbeat and breathing restored, as did the widow’s son from the village of Nain. but all would die again. But it was not a resurrection.
Martin Luther reminds us Since “death’ is called Sleep. The body sleeps but the soul never dies.
On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[a] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha was frustrated. She said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
When Jesus saw Mary weeping And the Jews who had come with her, He was deeply moved in his Spirit. Where have you laid him”? Come and see Mary said. Upon arrival at the tomb “Jesus wept.” Jesus did not come for Shiva to sit with Mary and Martha. and at Mary and Martha’s home. Jesus weeps over one person. He weeps because he understands the pain and sorrow, evil has unleashed on the human race. The Greek text “Jesus was moved in His Spirit and troubled. It is used when a horse when totally frustrated rears and paws the sky. Those words convey deep anger at death. Jesus weeps death brings pain loss. Jesus knows. He feels our pain. He also reminds us that upon our physical death when our heart stops beating we will be with him in Paradise, just as He told the thief on the cross Today you will be with me in Paradise, that is why Jesus and Paul use the word “Sleep”.
Jesus offers a prayer Father I thank you that you have heard my request but I prayed so that those here may believe you sent me.
Then he calls out “Lazarus come out!” Jesus had to be specific Lazarus if not, thousands would have come back to life. At the time of Jesus there was a belief that the soul hung around the body for three days that is why Jesus waited until the fourth day. ‘ Lazarus came out. How? Did he crawl like a worm? Jesus said unbind him take off the grave wrappings. The binding is a reminder of how sins bind us. People are bound by pornography, drugs, greed for money. Jesus sets us free.
John concludes: Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
Human death remains in this world because of sin. When God created Adam He was molded from the dust of the earth, like a potter would mold a pot or vase. Then the bible tells us The creator Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and Adam became a living Human with a soul. Our soul never dies. That is why Jesus can use the word sleep for what we call death. Jesus returns our physical body will be joined again with our soul and we will be given a glorified resurrected body. When Jesus returns death and Satan will be destroyed forever. Jesus “I am the resurrection and life He Who believes in me will live forever
