Sermon - "Do You Believe This?"
John 11:1-45
RLD
(17 March 2002 - 5th Sunday of Lent)
Sermon Outline
Title: ""Do you believe this?""
Focus (What does the text say?): Jesus has the power to bring life even
from death. Jesus ""unbinds us"" from the forces that hold us down and
unable to live and breathe and act.
Function (How will the text affect the listeners?): To remind us how
easy it is to disbelieve anything, and yet how powerful belief can be
when we let it lead us.
Introduction
Jesus has the power to bring life even from death. Jesus ""unbinds us""
from the forces that hold us down and unable to live and breathe and
act.
As the light of the cosmos, Jesus offers to lead us in a way that we
will not stumble.
Some people will not believe no matter what happens.
It is so easy to disbelieve anything, and yet how powerful belief can be
when we let it lead us.
Although life often seems uncertain to us, Jesus offers us assurance of
a divine purpose for our lives as well as his guidance to follow that
purpose.
The Power of Belief and the Power of Unbelief
A few weeks ago on PBS there was a documentary on the aging brain. For
years, scientists thought the adult brain was incapable of repairing
itself. They thought once brain cells were destroyed in a certain part
of the brain, that damage was permanent. However, recent research has
demonstrated that the adult brain can repair itself.
As an example, they followed the progress of a man who had suffered a
stroke and had lost the use of his right hand. When they first
interviewed him, his hand was useless. However, they explained to him
their hopes that he could recover its function and then they started him
on a regimen of exercises. They would cover his good hand with a bulky
mitten that rendered it useless, and then they would force him to use
his weak, immobile hand. The work was very frustrating. It took hours
and hours of exercise every day. But he slowly began to regain the use
of his hand.
As they went through this process, they carefully examined his brain
function. They demonstrated that as he regained the function of his
hand, the part of his brain which had been nothing but dead cells, was
beginning to show life again. The body was slowly rebuilding the nerve
pathways through that section of the brain.
What interests me in this story is not so much the science, as the
belief. For decades doctors told stroke patients that healing was not
possible. Based on this counsel, countless people may have been left
with little hope for healing. But now, when this one man was told he
could heal, he had the courage and patience to work for healing.
Without belief in healing, it was unlikely this man would have healed.
An Even Greater Hope
Jesus offers us even more than earthly hope. Jesus begins with the
Jewish belief in resurrection. Martha''s faith has already given her the
comfort that she will be reunited with her brother in the eschatological
resurrection. She knows that death cannot separate them forever. But
Jesus challenges her to believe that even here and now, new life is
possible.
We may not see any physical resurrections today, but I believe Jesus''
words are still true. The life that Jesus promises: the life of
forgiveness and compassion for those who suffer, of love for all people
. . . this life is so far superior to our old way of life, that it is
like being raised from the dead. Can we even imagine a world without
war or crime or violence? Without economic inequalities? A world in
which all people equally share in God''s blessings? Jesus offers us an
invitation to build this new world with him as we live our life of
faith.
Realistic Responses
But even as we hear this message of good news, we have a hard time
believing it. Martha says she believes but she still mourns for her
brother. Even Jesus is overwhelmed by the pain that he sees in this
world. Before he raises Lazarus, even Jesus weeps.
Do not feel guilty about these kinds of feelings. When you read the
newspaper and feel overwhelmed by the pain of the world, remember this
moment in Jesus'' life. When we learn to love one another, we will feel
pain when we hear of others'' pain. When a loved one dies, do not feel
ashamed to grieve. Jesus also grieved.
But do not stop with frustration and grief. Jesus reminds us that in
God there is amazing power to create. Even death cannot stand in God''s
way. Perhaps, even our human stubbornness in this life cannot stand in
God''s way.
Conclusion
The power of belief can open incredible possibilities to us. As we
follow Christ, challenge yourself to believe ever more courageously that
God can work great goodness through your life, through our lives
together as the Church. And do not forget the power of unbelief.
Failing to believe also has a power to create. It can create roadblocks
in our lives that keep us from growing.
Although life often seems uncertain to us, Jesus offers us assurance of
a divine purpose for our lives as well as his guidance to follow that
purpose. Believe in the life God promises us. Jesus will raise us up.
Amen.