“And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
Our readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent bring us face to face with death. The prophet Ezekiel in a time when Israel was exiled away from their land and essentially dead as a nation, was taken to a vision of a valley of dry bones. An awful scene reminiscent of the aftermath of a great battle. Looking at the valley of dry bones, and led by the Lord’s hand all around, Ezekiel saw how vast was the number and how very dry the bones were. Ezekiel could not logically see signs of life in the valley of bones. Yet in faith he answers the question “O Lord God, you know.”
In the past some two weeks, it has felt as if the church as we know it has died. We are not able to gather as usual, and virtually everything we might normally plan on this time of the year is suspended. We do not have a return date in the near future that we can look forward to and hold out for. In the midst of public concern over how far to the limits our society will be tested by this pandemic, gathering in public for worship has somehow become a luxury we cannot safely practice. This trial brings to mind the fear that our congregation, Christ Lutheran Church will never meet again, as if we are dry bones.
Yet as bad as things are in our world right now, the proclamation of God’s Word has continued. The church has used online services, phone calls and many other mediums of communication to share God’s Word in this time of crisis. The Word will continue to go out, no matter what is going on in our nation. Just over 100 years ago our churches experienced another epidemic that prevented gathering from worship with the Influenza outbreak in 1918. Back then the Word continued and carried new life to the church going forward from the costly tragedy.
As a society we have been brought together with the same common sentiment, “We want things to be back to normal, we want this trial to be over.” Whether as soon as we would like or sometime later, the outbreak will run its course and our society will piece itself together in one form or another- forever changed by the experience. However the truth is that there has never been a “normal” period in history. We always face adversities and trials on this side of eternity- some more noticeable than other. Yet the truth is that the trials of this world will only be over when Jesus returns.
This pandemic we are weathering is a time where we must look to Jesus alone for our hope. It is a strange thing to realize that Monday through Friday I actually am working from a corner of my bedroom doing telehealth services. It is a scary thing to realize that within a number of days from a visit to a grocery store or other essential appearance in public I could end up with virus symptoms. And within 5 days of showing symptoms I could be in the hospital taking my last few breaths. I have read men have a higher rate of mortality with this disease than women. Causes for fear are real. For all of you with other high risk categories the fear is just as significant. As we realize how helpless we are and how great our fear, we look to Jesus not just because we know nobody else can save us, but because He alone gives us the strength to bear with our afflictions.
John chapter 11 helps us see that Jesus alone is our hope. In the face of death Jesus calls out and summons forth life. Jesus came to Bethany as he was summoned by Mary and Martha to respond to the needs of Larazus in his life threatening illness. For the glory of God, Jesus did not come and bring deliverance according to the preferred timeline of Larazus’ siblings. He came after Lazarus had been dead for four days.
In the midst of this brokenness and sadness of death Jesus spoke to Martha who had gone out ahead of Mary to meet Jesus. Martha put in the first word. She shared her distress and helpless despair in the face of death and used some language of trusting in God through it all. “Lord if you had been here , my brother would not have died, But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
We as the church would like to see the deliverance from this fallen world sooner. Yesterday with tears in my eyes I conveyed information to our congregation to pray for our brother in Christ Pastor Knoll, in the dangerous situation of fighting the corona virus illness in the hospital on a respirator. We wish Jesus would provide deliverance sooner.
Jesus promised to Martha, “Your brother will rise again.” This sounded like a far off promise to Martha. She says: “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. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. And everyone who believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Martha said to him: “Yes, Lord I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who is coming into the world.”
Martha confessed Jesus as Lord just as boldly and clearly as the disciples ever did. She saw in that moment that Jesus is her promised resurrection and life. Shortly thereafter she experienced His Word, the Word of God brings life, as Jesus cried out with a loud voice: “Lazarus come out.”
Lazarus was raised, body and soul alive and together and whole. The body that was ravaged by death and decaying for four days was healed by Jesus.
Today the Word of God brings life to us. Jesus brings life out of the dry bones of our church, our land, our world. He is our resurrection and our life. He is able to raise a body ravaged by the corona virus and reunite body and soul in a perfect whole. Each life is precious to Him. Listen to the Introit appointed for this Sunday:
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!” For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints
Each person who dies is indeed precious in the Lord’s eyes. No believer dies without the Lord’s notice. Jesus is there, weeping for all of the damage to body and soul, and Jesus is there raising each saint to everlasting life in him. Listen now to the close of the Old testament reading from Ezekiel chapter 37:
11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”
In the latest video address to our church body (which you can find on www.lcms.org President Harrison reminds us of the theme verse from the last LCMS convention 1Thessalonians 5:17-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
In this time of crisis we do not just stop with pray without ceasing. Since Jesus is our Resurrection and our life we have cause for rejoicing. We give thanks for His kingdom which comes in our lives even without our asking. We give thanks that no pandemic will ever separate us from his everlasting love.
Finally at this the close of the sermon, I have written an additional “Wellness for Life article” entitled “Making the best use of the time” I know that not all suggestions I provide will apply to any one person. However I pray this writing will help you ask what is God’s Will for you in this time.