Psalm 130
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45
First Lesson: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Challenges:
Some context for this passage is necessary: an explanation of the Exile, the lack of hope and the complete shattering of the worldview of the people of Judah. People won't know that off the top of their heads. As always with context, how much do you give? And if you've been reading this blog for awhile you are probably asking, "how often will he ask that question?"
Opportunities:
It might be off-putting or confusing that this encounter with God was a vision or a moment when the prophet was in a "state of altered consciousness" for some. I like the Albus Dumbledore quote from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Harry says "Tell me one last thing...Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"Dumbledore responds "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" (Deathly Hallows, pg. 723)
Perhaps you have heard of the band "Lost and Found." Their song "Dry Bones" not only connects with the First Lesson, it will get stuck in your head for days. Listen to it by clicking here and see what I mean. Now it will be stuck in your head...I have control of your mind!!!!
If you ask me, this isn't a time to get scientific and analytical: this is a chance to let your inner poet to jump out and verbally dance all over the page (if you use notes) or through your head (if you don't). Speak to the HEARTS of people: what are the 'dry' or 'dead' parts of their lives, their communities, their hopes. Is it too scary to think of these dry bones walking? Is it too risky to hope that they will or is it just better to expect the worst so you won't be disappointed?
The Good News:
There will be life for the people of God. There will be the presence of God's Spirit. And because of that future reality, our present reality is one of hope. This can be a powerful message for congregations who feel like their "glory days" are in the past, congregations who are tired and frustrated. If the hope that comes from this story can wash over people who feel dead, they can feel life again.
Psalm: Psalm 130
Challenges:
This is a powerful psalm and it makes some really, really good statements of faith and of truth (see verse 3 for a huge chunk of truth). When I read this Psalm I gain hope and comfort. Part of my mind strays, however, to the question "How about the people who memorized this psalm and then recited it when things were really, really bad but no help came? The ship went down, the building burned, the city fell, the...well, you name it. Where was God then?" Of course, I'm a pastor and I can come up with lots of responses and answers to this question, but it still troubles me. There will be at least one person like me out in your congregation on Sunday (probably more). How will you response to them in a pastoral and prophetic way?
Opportunities:
Last week, Psalm 23 was an excellent example of a psalm to carry with you in the hard and bad times. Psalm 130 is another example of this. These words and the sentiment behind it can be just as helpful. Not only is it good to memorize all or at least some of Psalm 130, capturing the sentiment and spirit of the message: hope in the Lord and opening up to God in the middle of hard situations, can be just as important.
The Good News:
Second Lesson: Romans 8:6-11
Challenges:
It's easy to look at this passage and say: well, don't do sinful things, they'll kill you. While some sinful things CAN kill you (I don't think you need any examples of this), I don't think that's the point here. While I believe that "the flesh" is more than just premarital sex or drinking or "sinful card-playing" (as Christians of other eras have felt), I do think that Paul has a point about what are minds are set on. A challenge here will be to get people to move away from an idea of individual specific actions (not that I am condoning or endorsing individual sinful actions here: kids, don't do drugs), but rather a mindset that is either pointed toward God or pointed away from God.
Another challenge, at least for me, comes from the line "Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." How do we get that Spirit exactly? Is this a "bound will" sort of thing? How does this Spirit get into us? If it's something we have to do, that's a bit scary. If it's something God does, WHY DOESN'T EVERYONE HAVE THE SPIRIT? Honestly, this is a question I've been struggling with quite a bit.
Opportunities:
Opportunities:
"If the Spirit of the of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you..." I think of this as a "you are what you eat" sort of thing (in a holy communion sort of way...not a unclean foods sort of way...no analogy is perfect). If the Spirit's on the inside, both the outside and the inside will be different through the Spirit that dwells in us.
The Good News:
We often talk about how we're not alone and that God is with us. It's certainly true and good to talk about this, but we've heard it so often that it can run off our ears like water off a duck's back. This lesson offers a slightly different way to look at it: the Holy Spirit is inside of us and so wherever we go, the Holy Spirit is with us, even when God feels so far away.
Gospel: John 11:1-45
Challenges:
This is our third week of really, really, really, REALLY long Gospel Lessons. You know the drill by this time: have everyone sit down. Maybe reader's theater again?
Also, there is the fact that Jesus purposefully waits so that Lazarus will be dead when he arrives at Bethany. You get the sense that if he had left immediately Lazarus wouldn't have died: Mary and Martha think so and I believe that they are correct.
And another thing: the Bible usually doesn't give vocal tones to the dialogue of the characters found in its stories. We have to add those ourselves (hopefully in a faithful way). Then there are times when we get some of the character's feelings, like in verse 33 where Jesus is greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. Does he feel this way because of the pain and suffering people are feeling? Is it because of their lack of faith? Maybe a bit of both? I don't believe there are any clear answers and it's for reasons like this that studying Scripture, especially devotionally, should always be done with humility and an openness to what God has to say to us. Jesus is greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. Jesus weeps. Why? What do you think?
Also, there is the fact that Jesus purposefully waits so that Lazarus will be dead when he arrives at Bethany. You get the sense that if he had left immediately Lazarus wouldn't have died: Mary and Martha think so and I believe that they are correct.
And another thing: the Bible usually doesn't give vocal tones to the dialogue of the characters found in its stories. We have to add those ourselves (hopefully in a faithful way). Then there are times when we get some of the character's feelings, like in verse 33 where Jesus is greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. Does he feel this way because of the pain and suffering people are feeling? Is it because of their lack of faith? Maybe a bit of both? I don't believe there are any clear answers and it's for reasons like this that studying Scripture, especially devotionally, should always be done with humility and an openness to what God has to say to us. Jesus is greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. Jesus weeps. Why? What do you think?
Opportunities:
In the book "Undead: Revived, Resuscitated, Reborn" Clay Morgan talks about how we all can be in spiritual tombs in this life. (I'd recommend the book and you can find it here.) Tombs of depression, hopelessness, sadness, fear...you name it. And for all of us, Jesus will cry in a loud voice "COME OUT!"
From a historical/cultural point of view, the fact that Lazarus was in the tomb for four days is rather important. It means that he was ACTUALLY, TRULY, REALLY dead. It was much harder back then to tell if a person was really dead and there have been cases even today of people waking up in morgues or under a medical examiner's knife (just google the name "Carlos Camejo.") People had a variety of ways to make sure someone was dead: a wake gave the body plenty of time to wake up if necessary, sailors at sea were sown into their hammocks with the last thread going through their nose just to make sure they weren't still kicking, and in Victorian times elaborate inventions were made that could be placed on caskets and would alert loved ones with a ringing bell if the corpse moved.
But if you've been in a tomb for FOUR DAYS you are actually dead. So there would be no doubt of what Jesus did here.
For the junior high boy in all of us, the King James Version has Martha warning Jesus about Lazarus' body, "Lord, by this time he stinketh..." If you don't find the word "stinketh" funny you are more mature person than I am.
From a historical/cultural point of view, the fact that Lazarus was in the tomb for four days is rather important. It means that he was ACTUALLY, TRULY, REALLY dead. It was much harder back then to tell if a person was really dead and there have been cases even today of people waking up in morgues or under a medical examiner's knife (just google the name "Carlos Camejo.") People had a variety of ways to make sure someone was dead: a wake gave the body plenty of time to wake up if necessary, sailors at sea were sown into their hammocks with the last thread going through their nose just to make sure they weren't still kicking, and in Victorian times elaborate inventions were made that could be placed on caskets and would alert loved ones with a ringing bell if the corpse moved.
But if you've been in a tomb for FOUR DAYS you are actually dead. So there would be no doubt of what Jesus did here.
For the junior high boy in all of us, the King James Version has Martha warning Jesus about Lazarus' body, "Lord, by this time he stinketh..." If you don't find the word "stinketh" funny you are more mature person than I am.
The Good News:
There are two pieces of good news: Jesus knows what he can do and that Lazarus will be raised. He has things in hand. But he still has a tremendous amount of empathy to be disturbed and troubled and even to weep at the anguish that the death of Lazarus has caused. Jesus is that kind of guy.
The second half of the good news is this: Jesus doesn't only weep at the death of a friend, he is powerful enough to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. And with his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead, he is powerful enough to DO SOMETHING ABOUT the fate of all of us.
I like the fact that my fate is in the hands of someone who feels anguish when he sees anguish in others.
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