A Sermon Delivered by The Rev. Terrilisa Durham Bauknight
Centenary United Methodist Church Metuchen, New Jersey
Sunday, 9 March 2008 (The Fifth Sunday in Lent)

Text: John 11:1-45

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 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.” Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 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. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. 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?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”
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.” And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 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. 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.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 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.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. 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.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 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.”
Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. —John 11:1-45, NRSV

Can you imagine – waiting and wondering; pacing and pausing; watching and hoping; – questioning and complaining. This illness, its persistent (you say to yourself, as do others). It’s not like the illnesses before – the cloud of darkness – death? Is that what it is hanging over? – a gloom – not sun like before. But, but that’s not possible, for this was the house of Mary and Martha – kept safe and secure by their brother Lazarus. Their friend was Jesus. Word had been sent, yes, sent to Jesus, yet, he wasn’t there. He hadn’t come — yet. Lazarus was tossing and turning and talking – half asleep – half awake? “Death?” The word was spoken again. No, not in this house – Jesus would stop by – he would stop by. He would make sure it was all right. Mary believed this as she walked the floor. Martha busied herself as she walked back and forth from the window, to the door, waiting for Jesus to soon cross the threshold.

And some distance away, a messenger with word of Lazarus and his condition reached Jesus. Giving him the news, Jesus knows of Lazarus’ faith – and receive it! Yet, having no fear and being about his Father’s business, Jesus continues on –doing what must be, done, but realizing that he must go as well. He will get there!

Time passes – you all know the story, we all heard what Jesus said from what was read for your hearing; but hear this. Time passes, and Jesus finally gets there. And as He approaches the house, Jesus knows, – he is the son of God – God in the flesh – HIS SPIRIT KNOWS – yet he walks on – talking to His Father, each and every step of the way. And as He gets to the door — before he can even knock – the door flies open with a sudden jerking motion! The wood is replaced with a voice in the emptiness, yet the body that houses this voice is not visible – “Where have you been?!” Anger – loss – frustration. “Where have you been?” – the voice now has it’s owners presence for Jesus to see – “You are too late!” she cries. He’s gone! HAD YOU BEEN HERE – her eyes wide with grief, her voice breaking – HAD, YOU, BEEN, HERE, – my brother would be alive! Your Friend – Your Friend — is dead and buried.

Now, I am sure that Jesus is silent as he is confronted by the rush of emotions, he makes no attempt to stop her from her sayings – and then though – I am sure there is a rush of his own emotions – his feelings – for this is a loss for the Son of God, the same one who said, “Who is my mother? Who is my brother?” He is confronted – I am sure, by a host of emotions, for this is the loss of a friend, a confidant, empty now will be a place among the four (4) where he dined, reclined, relaxed and was permitted to unwind. And in his response to this loss, to this reality that his friend was gone – Jesus WEPT! And I don’t believe they were silent tears, I believe they were the tears that we have all cried one time or another – tears for the loss, tears filled with memories, tears that are asking questions and looking for answers – tears that are speaking to God and waiting for a response – for they come not just from the surface, but from a loss that is felt deep down in one’s soul. In those tears – Jesus’ human side comes forth!

So Jesus turns, not in anger, but to pose a question – and he says simply – “Where is he?” “Buried” is her flat response. “Take me to him” is Jesus’ request. “Of course you’ll want some time there,” she is thinking; “time to pay your respect…maybe just sit outside the tomb”… her thought trails off. Oh if they only knew what Jesus had in mind! They go with Jesus, Lazarus’ sisters do – their hearts heavy and self-occupied. Jesus’ mind is turning – he is deep in thought. And when he arrives at the burial site, there is now a gathering! Jesus is here – the word has quickly spread. And Jesus, who I believe as he was walking, had been talking with God every step of the way – and simply says – with enough command in his voice – “Roll away the stone.” He might have even needed to repeat it, “Roll away the stone,” because of the shock and dismay on the faces of those who had gathered there. But Martha says, as she moves forward quickly, probably touching Jesus on the arm, she says – Surely you are kidding! Leave it alone! It is too late – he is gone—but worst off – surely he smells!!! Amazing isn’t it, how our thoughts change when we realize in whose presence we stand. As a believer, as believers in Jesus Christ, we must remember – Christ is no ordinary man – every action had a purpose and he meant for those who were with him to see and understand. So, the command was given for the last time. More than likely it was silent, a simple hand motioning by the master, for those present, to roll away the stone. And I can just see it, can’t you, how some of those who were, but not sure, backed away and those who rolled away the stone did it carefully and painfully slow, all unsure of what was about to happen. And then Jesus, with a voice a voice that only he can use and do it the way he does – calls forth Lazarus. For you see that voice is a combination, a mixture if you will of both a command and a request laced with love. And for a second time – a faithful servant, a believer in Jesus Christ, responds to the calling of his name — and — comes forth. Please understand, the first call was a call in death unto glory and the second call brings him back among his family and friends to be a living testimony.

Now think about it, the topic is I’ll be somewhere…listening for my name. Imagine what would have happened if Jesus had stood before that open tomb and simply said – COME FORTH! All those who were buried within that tomb who we say are sleeping, not dead, would have awakened! No, Jesus only wanted one – he wanted Lazarus. And Lazarus was listening – his heart, his soul his, spirit was tuned to the voice of the Master; even as he slept. When Jesus called – Lazarus answered and came forth.

In a week, a year will have passed that began a time when six (6) of those closest to us, friends, family members, classmates and others heard the Lord call and answered. They were all somewhere listening for their names. I, like Mary, when Pastor and my father told me that Sandy, who was the first to leave us, was gone – I was angry – I was lost and like a child I told my Father – “go get her!” –“bring her back!” And my Father replied simply, “If I go and get her, I won’t come back.” So through this story of death and resurrection, our names and who calls us, takes on new meaning. We are all called. And make no mistake each of us has heard the Lord call and speak to us – in many different ways. We may not like what he has had to say, but then his voice is one of both a command and request, laced with love. Then there are those that have heard the other call – a call that only their spirit knows — and the answer is different – it’s one that calls us from this life to another and that call cannot be stopped or ignored – as much as it hurts and much as it angers us, as much as it leaves us wondering why, how and why now? When the call comes – the believer must faithfully answer – for the song writer: When He calls me, Lord, I’m going to answer. When He calls me, yes, I’m going to answer. When He calls, me, Lord I’m going to answer. I’ll be somewhere listening for my name. I’ll be somewhere listening, somewhere listening; I’ll be somewhere, listening for my name. I’ll be somewhere listening, oh somewhere listening; I’ll be somewhere listening for my name.

Each one of us has been called, as a Christian, as a witness, as a believer as a child of God saved by grace through the blood that was shed by Jesus Christ. And, each one of us will be called a second time, some day. Just like Lazarus, will you be listening for your name and answer, coming forth willingly to that command and request laced with love. Amen