Lent 5A - First Thoughts

Lent 5A

Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 130
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45

I am seriously behind the eight-ball this week. Not only did the new Church computer arrive Tuesday, but I spent the week moving my office to the sunny side of the church building (All of my books are currently in pews in the Sanctuary). In addition, we had a major snowstorm on Tuesday/Wednesday, which caused the cancellation of a Board Meeting and a setback on the moving process.

But, Sunday's just around the corner, and I need to start solidifying some thoughts. This is the last week of our Lenten lessons from John, and so I may draw some connections between the various lessons. Each week we've seen a different image or theme presented in the encounters with Jesus. I'm going to suggest that each image has ultimately been a reflection or foreshadowing of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Spiritual rebirth, living water, sight/light of the world, and resurrection are all images that we find represented in the eschatalogical pictures found in Revelation. I will begin to tie these together, to show that while those narratives can all be understood practically, they all operate on a deeper level which points to the Heavenly Kingdom.

The raising of Lazarus is the most amazing of Jesus' miracles. By the fourth day, Lazarus was truly considered dead, not just asleep. All hope was lost at this point, but Jesus responds with a miracle that is completely unheard of.

And yet, as far as we know, Lazarus died again. I certainly don't know of any 2000-year-old men walking around, and there's no record of him being whisked away to heaven like Enoch or Elijah. As amazing as this miracle is, it is really just a foretaste of the miracle of new and eternal life offered at teh resurrection of the dead.

Grace and Peace,

PastorJon