5th Sunday in Lent – Sermon 65

Prayer to start

May the words of my lips and the thoughts of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ

AMEN

Introduction

Life is wonderful – it’s a gift from God
We all want to hang on to it – as long as possible – and live life to the full

New life is even better –

The arrival of a new baby or grandchild in a family is a time of great joy and celebration –

Jesus promises new life to everyone –

“I am the resurrection and the life – whoever has faith in me shall live – even though He dies”

Do we believe it?

Our readings this morning are about – renewal – our renewal –

In Ezekiel we have a promise – in our Gospel we have a practical demonstration – and through Paul we see what difference it makes –

We are going to look at what is said – to see if helps us understand how we can receive that new life today –  

First Point       Ezekiel + Romans “Spirit brings life” First Ezekiel –

 

Ezekiel lived at one of the most difficult times in Judah’s history –he was a young priest – taken captive by the Babylonians in one of their raids on Jerusalem – he was called by God to proclaim His message to the Israelites taken into exile –

He used pantomime and theatre to get his message across – everything from slapping his thighs – eating manuscripts – hanging upside down on ropes – shaving off his hair – though that’s not unusual these days – and setting fire to it –

He was known for his mysterious visions – messages – that God wanted him to pass on to His people –

The most well known of these was the valley of the dry bones –

“O man, can these bones live?”

The bones were the people of Israel – in a seemingly hopeless situation – after 10 years of captivity –

Oh no they can’t – said the Israelites –

Oh yes they can said – God –

“Prophesy over these bones – says God : say – dry bones , hear the word of the Lord.”

And when the dry bones heard the word of God – things started to happen – first a rattle – then a knitting together

I’m sure you’ve all heard the song – (no I’m not going to sing it!)

But the words weren’t enough to bring them back to life – it was only part of the job – if things were going to change they would need a spiritual awakening

“prophesy to the wind … that they may come to life.”

This time the effect was devastating –

What his preaching couldn’t achieve – prayer made it a reality – the bones came to life – and became a mighty company –

But Ezekiel’s vision was not so much about the how – but about the what – it was about a promise from God – “I shall put my spirit in you – and you will come to life”

Dry bones are probably – the worst congregation any preacher might have to face – lifeless – static – dead – not a flicker of a response anywhere – (pause?) – an impossible situation – but through God all things are possible –

God says – Israel will experience new life – there will be a new beginning – and it will come through – His word – and His Spirit –

Point 2    Lazarus – Jesus gives life –

 

In our gospel reading – that promise becomes a reality – This is the last of the 7 “I am” sayings that John uses to tell us who Jesus is. He believed that this last miracle lead directly to Jesus being arrested and condemned to death – to John it sums up what it is that Jesus brings – does and gives -: life

Jesus gives us a practical demonstration of that impossible act – foreseen by Ezekiel – He literally brings His friend Lazarus – back to life –

John’s Gospel is the only book to record this miracle – The others tell us about events where Jesus healed and brought people back – after they had just died – but here – Lazarus had been dead for 4 days and his body had started to decay – his bones were well and truly – lifeless – there was no doubt that he was dead –

Jesus – is told of Lazarus’ illness through a letter – He could have healed him at a distance – or left straight away – but he didn’t – because He knew that “ through it God’s glory is to be revealed”

When He arrives He is greeted by a family in mourning –

“Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died,”

what Martha was really saying was: Lord why weren’t you there, you could have saved him, I prayed for you to save him, but you didn’t come –

How many times have we echoed those thoughts when someone close to us has died –

But Jesus says – her brother will rise again

“I am the resurrection and the life – whoever has faith in me shall live – even though He dies – and no one who lives and has faith in me – shall ever die – Do you believe it?

“I believe you are the Messiah,” she said, the Son of God, who was to come in to this world.”

When Mary arrived she repeated the same words – that her sister used – when Jesus is led to the tomb – He openly weeps at the sight of all the pain and despair around Him – grief is the price we pay for loving – Jesus’ grief – like His love is stronger than ours – ever could be.

“Take away the stone” says Jesus

But what about the smell – surely its too late –

Jesus looked upwards and spoke “ Father, thank you for hearing me, I know you always hear me, I spoke …so that they may believe – that it was you who sent me”

When Lazarus came out of the tomb – he was still tightly wrapped in bandages and Jesus called those near to release him –

When God performs His miracle of life – He involves us – His people – we have not got to sit back – and watch – we have to play our part – Ezekiel spoke God’s word to the dry bones, and prayed for the help of the Spirit – Jesus calls the mourners to move the stone from Lazarus’ tomb – and to – loosen him from his bindings –

In bringing Lazarus back to life – Jesus was clearly signaling His own resurrection and ours

There’s only one way to receive new life – and that is to personally believe – that Jesus exchanges His life for ours – absorbing our sins – on a cross – and that He rose again – so that we might rise too –

 

Point 3  

 

Dry bones – are a picture of the lost – everyone without Christ is as dead as the bones in Ezekiel’s valley –

As Paul puts it;
“ those who live on the level of the old nature – have their outlook found in it – and that spells death”

but God’s Spirit can change us – He will give us new life and peace – when the spirit dwells within us – we know we belong to Jesus Christ – we are born again – Just as Jesus was raised from the dead – and brought back to life –so we too through Jesus will be revitalized and be given a new start –

Sometimes when life gets difficult – and we’re confronted with what looks like an impossible situation –we have to recognize – that only God knows best – that we must depend on Him totally – there are three things we must do –

first admit the problem – God wanted Ezekiel to know just how severe a situation he was facing

second – Read the word – the Bible – Jesus’ teaching is vital for our regeneration

third –pray – to the Spirit for revival –

It was Martin Luther King that said – “If I should neglect prayer but one single day – I should lose a great deal of the fire of faith”

 

Conclusion

 

Lazarus’ call back to life – was no theatrical production – it is God’s power in action –

when – words fail to convince us –there’s no argument against God’s Spirit –

people can change their behaviour – but only God can change their hearts –

Are you full of God’s Spirit – Has God breathed life into your bones? – Are you ready to live a new life in Christ?

Well you’ve heard His word – now lets pray to His Spirit

 
 
Prayer to Finish

 Lord God, we thank you for gathering us together through your Son Jesus Christ, who opened wide His arms on the cross, and gave His life to bring us peace.
Send your Holy Spirit among us so that your love may live in us, so we may set each other free from pain and hate and things misunderstood and fill the earth with laughter and offer back to you a wholesome harvest
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN