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Episode 57: Four Days Dead Takes Its Toll or Lent 5A
Opening Music: Dem Bones
For Sunday, April 6, 2014
Episode 57
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This is episode 57 for Sunday April 6, the fifth week of Lent year A.
John 11:1-45 The death and raising of Lazarus
Psalm 130 Out of the depths
Sponsorship
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Introductions
Check-in
- Christian Piatt Thursday Night Special
- World Vision and Child Sponsorship
Primary Scripture - John 11:1-45 The death and raising of Lazarus
- Initial thoughts
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- One of my youth once pointed out to me that John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept” (KJV). He thought he was getting out of a memorization exercise. It started a good discussion.
- Add the next few verses? John 11:45-53 frames the story amid Jesus’ rising conflict with leaders. Lazarus is the motive behind their plot to kill him.
- One of my youth once pointed out to me that John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept” (KJV). He thought he was getting out of a memorization exercise. It started a good discussion.
- Bible Study
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- Lazarus is ill
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- Which Mary is it?
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- Gospel of John has possibly three different Marys.
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- Chapters 11-12, Mary, sister of Martha. Also anointed Jesus’ feet with oil.
- 19:25, at the cross of Jesus stood Mary, wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.
- Chapter 20 Mary Magdalene finds Jesus’ tomb empty.
- Chapters 11-12, Mary, sister of Martha. Also anointed Jesus’ feet with oil.
- v. 2 points ahead to 12:3. In John, this story is used to increase tension with Judas. In other Gospels, woman’s name is not mentioned. In Mark 14:3-9 an unnamed woman anoints Jesus’ head. it is connected to anointing of the dead. In Luke 7:36f, a nameless woman interrupts a meal with the Pharisees and does a similar act - anointing feet with oil and tears.. It is shown connected to lack of hospitality of the Pharisees. Luke later names Mary and Martha, but there is no connection between this episode and them.
- Gospel of John has possibly three different Marys.
- Common English Bible makes an important translation: adds the word “opposition.”
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- v. 8 instead of being “The Jews want to stone you.” It reads “The Jewish opposition wants to stone you.” Removes the conflict from generalized, and dangerous, “The Jews” to the reality of a select group that is in opposition to Jesus.
- v. 8 instead of being “The Jews want to stone you.” It reads “The Jewish opposition wants to stone you.” Removes the conflict from generalized, and dangerous, “The Jews” to the reality of a select group that is in opposition to Jesus.
- Despite the fear of the disciples, Jesus moves toward the danger.
- Lazarus is ill “for the glory of God,” reminiscent of blind man last week.
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- All of Gospel of John is “written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.” (John 20:30)
- All of Gospel of John is “written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.” (John 20:30)
- Which Mary is it?
- Jesus with Martha and Mary
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- Paradox of Jesus mourning
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- Jesus is not a passive observer.
- Trials of life affect Jesus, even at his most powerful moment.
- Provides evidence that Jesus (and God) “suffering with” us.
- Jesus is not a passive observer.
- Mary and Martha profess belief despite mourning
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- Both declare, “if you had been here, he’d be alive.”
- Martha: “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, the one who is coming into the world.”
- Both declare, “if you had been here, he’d be alive.”
- Jesus is “deeply disturbed.” The Greek suggests anger.
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- What to make of anger? Was he angry at Mary and Martha for mourning? Was he angry at the crowds that wouldn’t leave him alone? Was he angry that his friend died? Perhaps just a normal part of grief process, that includes anger.
- He is “deeply disturbed” when he gets to the tomb.
- What to make of anger? Was he angry at Mary and Martha for mourning? Was he angry at the crowds that wouldn’t leave him alone? Was he angry that his friend died? Perhaps just a normal part of grief process, that includes anger.
- Paradox of Jesus mourning
- At Lazarus’s tomb
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- Lazarus is culmination of Jesus’ ministry. Everything builds to this moment.
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Margerie Suchocki points to progression of Jesus’ self-identification in John
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- John 4:26: I who speak to you am he (the Messiah).
- John 6:35 and John 6:48: I am the bread of life
- John 6:51: I am the living bread that came down out of heaven
- John 8:12 and John 9:5: I am the light of the world
- John 8:58: Before Abraham was, I am
- John 10:7 and John 10:9: I am the door
- John 10:11 and John 10:14: I am the good shepherd
- John 11:25: I am the resurrection and the life.
- John 4:26: I who speak to you am he (the Messiah).
- “Amid the symbols of death - intense grief, a skeptical and somewhat impatient audience, the odor of a decaying body, the tightly wrapped grave clothes - Jesus speaks and acts, and there is life” (Charles Cousar, Texts for Preaching, Year A, p. 226).
- Lazarus had to be unbound. People had to be there to finish the work Jesus had started.
- Lazarus is culmination of Jesus’ ministry. Everything builds to this moment.
- Lazarus is ill
- Preaching Thoughts and Questions:
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- Why did Jesus weep? What does this tell us about Jesus?
- Martha, Mary, and people all ask, “Couldn’t he have kept him from dying?” How often have we asked the same question? How often is bargaining a part of our grief? Can God prevent death? Can or Does God intervene to stop tragedy, or does he show up late and pick up the pieces?
- Raising of Lazarus is final act revealing that Jesus is life. It is done in full view of public, and reaction to his life-giving ministry is death. Death always follows life, but with Jesus, death is not the end of the story.
- Little rejoicing. Sometimes we are too shocked at something to react. In this story there are simply some who believe and follow, and some who report what happened to the Pharisees. Jesus’s life and ministry forces you into response.
- It might be a stretch, but: Five Stages of Grief:
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- Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance.
- All can be seen - Jesus waiting a couple of days to go. Sisters wishing Jesus had gotten there earlier. Jesus is “deeply disturbed” hints at anger. Jesus weeps, and people see how deeply he loved. Acceptance - fulfillment of Jesus’ mission.
- Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance.
- Why did Jesus weep? What does this tell us about Jesus?
click the above link for lyrics and more of Richard’s great music!
Secondary scripture - Psalm 130 Out of the depths
- Initial thoughts
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- Psalm 130 is found in funeral liturgy in the United Methodist Book of Worship
- Too depressing?
- Interesting pairing with the Gospel story
- Themes: Waiting, hope, disappointment?
- It has been a long winter
- Psalm 130 is found in funeral liturgy in the United Methodist Book of Worship
- Bible Study
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- v. 1 Out of the Depths
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- From the valley of the shadow of death?
- From the drone of everyday-ness?
- From deep tragedy - cancer, divorce, loneliness, etc?
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- The death of a friend Jesus - Lazarus) or a brother (Mary and Martha - Lazarus)
- The death of a friend Jesus - Lazarus) or a brother (Mary and Martha - Lazarus)
- Psalmist does not leave or refuse to interact with God, but even in the depths- cries out
- From the valley of the shadow of death?
- Issues of timing
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- Our time vs God’s time - when it matches up and when it doesn’t
- Harold Camping - May 21, 2013
- “Here is a family separated by the obligations of military service, waiting for a beloved daughter to return. Here is a widow waiting for her home to sell, so she can move closer to her son and grandchildren. Here is a patient waiting for a lab report. Here is a man who has betrayed his wife, asking, praying, waiting to be forgiven. The preacher lifts up such waiting, not in order to tell people how they should wait, but to assure them that the pastor, the church, the psalmist, and the resurrected Lord all wait with them!” (Thomas E Mcgrath, Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year A, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide.)
- Active waiting: cry, hear, mark, watch, hope, redeem - active words in the midst of waiting
- Our time vs God’s time - when it matches up and when it doesn’t
- v. 4 - Forgiveness
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- Forgiveness is central to what IS known about God
- Weird phrasing “there is forgiveness with you”
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- not simply about who God is
- About who we are when we are “with” God
- not simply about who God is
- Forgiveness is central to what IS known about God
- Individual and Community
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- We all sin - v.3 sometimes individually and sometimes corporately
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- It is easier to sin as a church, country or community - in other words we allows institutions to get away with things that we consider unacceptable for individuals to do.
- It is easier to sin as a church, country or community - in other words we allows institutions to get away with things that we consider unacceptable for individuals to do.
- Waiting is isolating- v. 7 and 8 remind us of the corporate nature of waiting.
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- Waiting with
- Active waiting can be the most vital ministry
- Waiting with
- We all sin - v.3 sometimes individually and sometimes corporately
- v. 1 Out of the Depths
- Preaching Thoughts and Questions:
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- What are you waiting for?
- What is the church waiting for?
- What does it mean to actively wait for God?
- Can we wait and remain faithful in the hope of something yet unrealized? Or do we give up and move on?
- What are you waiting for?
click the above link for lyrics and more of Richard’s great music!
Quick Thoughts on the other Scripture:
Ezekiel 37:1-14
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Dem Bones
- Great connections to John - resurrection and the Psalm - hope in the Lord who can and WILL bring new life to dry (waiting) bones
- Central text for those who believe in the bodily resurrection (v.11)
- Not about Spirit vs Flesh, but that both are needed- life in the Spirit, that is following the WAY of Jesus, leads to life in the body
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- Fascinating connection considering all modern science has been abot to tell us about the effects of depression and stress on physical well being
- Fascinating connection considering all modern science has been abot to tell us about the effects of depression and stress on physical well being
CLOSING
Shout outs:
Thank you to John Hudson, Suz Cate, and Marianne Paul who all left great comments on our blog.
Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Pulpit Fiction Podcast!
Our opening music was the old Sunday School classic, Dem Bones in honor of the Ezekiel reading this week.
Our featured musician for Lent is Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, we played his song "We Wait in Hope For Your Word" which is based on Psalm 130 from his album Sharing the Road, vol. 1 of the Psalms Project.
You can find out more about Richard’s music at worldmaking.net
Our theme music is Misirlou by Dick Dale and the Del Tones and our closing music is “Oh No” by Paul & Storm.
Feedback:
And Robb was right....Compatriot is a word :)