Introduction
In today’s gospel, Jesus reveals his power over death by raising Lazarus from the dead. The prophet Ezekiel prophesies God breathing new life into dry bones. To those in exile or living in the shadows of death, these stories proclaim God’s promise of resurrection. In baptism we die with Christ that we might also be raised with him to new life. At the Easter Vigil we will welcome the newly baptized as we remember God’s unfailing promise in our baptism.
Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who is present, who gives life, who calls into existence the things that do not exist. Amen.
If you were to keep watch over sins, O Lord, who could stand? Yet with you is forgiveness, and so we confess.
Gracious God,
have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned away from you, knowingly and unknowingly. We have wandered from your resurrection life. We have strayed from your love for all people. Turn us back to you, O God. Give us new hearts and right spirits, that we may find what is pleasing to you and dwell in your house forever. Amen.
Receive good news: God turns to you in love. “I will put my spirit in you, and you shall live,” says our God. All your sin is forgiven in the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, who is the free and abounding gift of God’s grace for you. Amen.
Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Prayer of the Day
Let us pray:
Almighty God, your Son came into the world to free us all from sin and death. Breathe upon us the power of your Spirit, that we may be raised to new life in Christ and serve you in righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Word
God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.
First Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones is a promise that Israel as a nation, though dead in exile, will live again in their land through God’s life-giving spirit. Three times Israel is assured that through this vision they will know that “I am the Lord.”
1The hand of the Lord
came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a
valley; it was full of bones. 2He led me all around them; there were
very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3He said to
me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4Then he said
to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the
word of the Lord. 5Thus
says the Lord God to these bones:
I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6I will lay
sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin,
and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
7So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied,
suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to
its bone. 8I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had
come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9Then
he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the
breath: Thus says the Lord God:
Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that
they may live.” 10I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath
came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
11Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of
Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off
completely.’ 12Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the
Lord God: I am going to open your
graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring
you back to the land of Israel. 13And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring
you up from your graves, O my people. 14I will put my spirit
within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you
shall know that I, the Lord, have
spoken and will act, says the Lord.”
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 130:
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Second Reading: Romans 8:6-11.
For Paul, Christian spirituality entails living in the reality of the Holy Spirit. The driving force behind our actions and values is not our sinful desire for self-satisfaction but the very Spirit by which God raised Jesus from the dead and will also raise us from the dead.
6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind
on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For this reason the mind that is
set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it
cannot, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the
Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does
not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, though the body is
dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If
the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised
Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his
Spirit that dwells in you.
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
Gospel John 11:1-45
Jesus is moved to sorrow when his friend Lazarus falls ill and dies. Then, in a dramatic scene, he calls his friend out of the tomb and restores him to life.
11 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus,[a] “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after having heard that Lazarus[b] was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10 But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” 11 After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” 13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Thomas, who was called the Twin,[c] said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus[d] had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles[e] away, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[f] Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,[g] the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”
28 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34 He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus began to weep. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 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.”
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
Pastor Dave’s Sermon
In our gospel lesson, the family and friends have gathered and in their deep sorrow, they begin to weep over the loss of their loved one, Lazarus. The heart of Jesus goes out to them and He weeps with them. Then Jesus scares them when he says “Roll back the stone!” Martha, always the realist and ever ready to speak out, protests: “But Lord, we can’t do that. He has been in the grave for 4 days. By now there will be a terrible odor.” Jesus says to her: “Martha, only believe and you will see the power of God.”
So they roll the stone away, and Jesus cries out in a loud voice: “Lazarus come forth!” And incredibly, miraculously, amazingly, before their very eyes…Lazarus is resurrected! He comes out of the tomb. He still has on his grave clothes. His head and feet are still wrapped with mummy-like bandages. Jesus then turns to the friends and family and says to them. “Unbind him and let him go. Unwrap him and set him free.”
In this graphic and dramatic story, three awesome lessons jump out at us. Three great truths emerge which can be so helpful to us today. Let me list them for us: Jesus wept with those he loved and he still does. Jesus raised people up and he still does. Jesus included others in the healing process, and he still does.
My first year as a Pastor, I had a very real struggle. I went to a visitation of a father of a member of the church and good friend. Before I left, I went over Bible verses and comfort I could bring them. When I walked in, she came and hugged me and all I could say or do was to stand there and cry with her. I was embarrassed, so ashamed and so humiliated. When I got home, I immediately began to write a letter to the Bishop. I wanted to tell him I was unfit to be a pastor. That I did not have enough faith to be a pastor. I put the letter in the top drawer of my desk.
A few months later, I was reading the Lazarus story. That short verse, “Jesus wept”, jumped out to me. I realized Jesus wept with those He loved, and still does. So maybe my tears were not as bad as I thought. I reached in the drawer and tore up my letter to the Bishop.
There’s an important lesson I learned. When people are in grief, they don’t want theological pronouncements. They just want someone to come and love them. They just want someone to come and cry with them.
Jesus wept with those He loved, and He still does. He hurts with us. He feels our pain. We all face suffering some time and when it comes, one thing we can know is that our Lord is hurting with us, and He will love us through it. He will walk through the valley with us and in time He will bring us out of the valley of sorrow to the mountaintop on the other side. Jesus wept with those he loved and he still does.
At one time, I thought I will do funerals like Jesus did. But surprise, Jesus performed no funerals, only Resurrections! “Lazarus, come forth.” That’s personal, to be called by his name. Sometimes we find ourselves in tombs that are imprisoning us. Jesus wants to set us free. Listen for your name and respond in faith. Jesus will raise you up and give you a new start, a new chance, a new life.
Notice what happens when Lazarus comes out of the tomb. Jesus turns to his family and friends and says, “Unbind him and let him go. Unwrap him and set him free.” Jesus knew how important it is to have family and friends helping us, surrounding us with love, supporting us, encouraging us, in those moments when we are trying to make a new start with our lives.
Here we stand on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, one foot in Bethany and one on Calvary. Here we stand, knowing the unknowable: that for Lazarus’ fate to be changed. Jesus’ fate must be sealed. Here we stand, realizing the unthinkable: That having come from God, this Jesus must return to God, and the way of return is death. Death, before any of his friends and relatives can prepare to let him go. Before any can grasp the dangerous reality of the situation. Death before any can realize there is nothing they can do to stop it. Here we stand, believing the unbelievable: that before us is one who is the resurrection and the life. In his living presence eternal life begins not at the cave door, not at the funeral home, and not at the end of time, but with him, now, even as we speak. With him, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. “I am the resurrection and the life,” he said. “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live; and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” I do!
Amen.
Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Turning our hearts to God who is gracious and merciful, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.
God of life, bind your faithful people into one body. Enliven the church with your Spirit and bless the work of those who work for its renewal. Accomplish your work of salvation in us and through us, for the sake of the world. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
God of life, you love the world you have made, and you grieve when creation suffers. Restore polluted lands and waterways. Heal areas of the world ravaged by storms, floods, wildfires, droughts, or other natural disasters. Bring all things to new life. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
God of life, show redemption to all who watch and wait with eager expectation: those longing for wars to cease, those waiting for immigration paperwork to finalize, those seeking election, and those in dire need of humanitarian relief. Come quickly with your hope. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
God of life, you weep with those who grieve. Unbind all who are held captive by anxiety, despair, or pain, especially Edna Christenson, Allen
Halvorson, Sharon Hurajt, Gary Mead, Merle Overvig, Evan Peterson, Wayne Ramberg and Evie Roen. Fill us with compassion and empathy for those who struggle and keep us faithful in prayer. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
God of life, we give thanks for opportunities for this congregation to collaborate with our community in caring for the needs of our neighbors. Strengthen our ties with other local congregations, agencies, and services. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
God of life, you are our resurrection. We remember all those who have died and trust that, in you, they will live again. Breathe new life into our dry bones, that we, too, might live with you forever. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
According to your steadfast love, O God, hear these and all our prayers as we commend them to you; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Blessing
The God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus. Amen.
Dismissal
Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.
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