November 2, 2003

Mindekirken, Nov 2, 2003
Pastor Jens Arne Dale

A man was going to visit a friend who was hospitalized. He wanted to bring a gift. He stopped in the kiosk in the hospital lobby. "I would like to have a book for a friend who is ill," he said. "Would you like to have a religious book? " the lady at the counter asked. "Oh no, he’s not that sick…."

Lazarus was ill, and he might have needed a religious book. And his sisters called upon him who is the Word, Jesus himself. "Lord, he whom you love is ill." That was the message for Jesus, short, with a clear understatement.

If only Jesus knew what was going on, he would show up and take charge. They knew Jesus and trusted him.

The story about the home in Bethany where the siblings Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived, is beautiful. This was a home where Jesus could withdraw together with good friends. It was a home where he might find peace and rest. It’s written about Jesus that he had nowhere to lay his head, Luke 9.58. Therefore, such an open home must have meant a lot to him.

Friendship is one of the best gifts we can give each other. We need someone who has time for us, people with whom we may share sorrow and joy, folks who will not laugh at our dreams or despise us for our weaknesses.

To open one’s home and heart in this way doesn’t need to cost money, but it’s an investment of greatest value. Especially when we lose one of our dearest ones, it would be extra important to be among good friends. Some get the most beautiful family memories at times of fellowship in grief.

There might be siblings who get closer to each other than ever before, because they lost a father or a mother.

Today we lit candles and read the names of those of our congregation who have passed away since last time we celebrated All Saints Day. We do this to express care and sympathy. The custom makes room for bitter missing, deep respect and warm thanks for good memories.

The candle also symbolizes our prayers to God, it points out the comfort and life everlasting. The hymns we’re singing today proclaim the hope of the future of God.

Lazarus was ill, and they asked Jesus to come. But for some reason Jesus waited several days before he came. Jesus came too late. He came too late to hold his friend Lazarus’ hand when he was ill, too late to be there when his life came to an end, too late to be there when his dead body was laid in the tomb.

Martha blamed Jesus for this: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." But what seems to be too late for us, might not be too late seen from God’s angle. It looked like everything was over. Some times we experience adversity and difficulties we would have liked to avoid. That’s how it might feel when a loved one dies.

Some grieve because their marriage is torn apart. Others experience life’s hardest moments when one’s health fails. Fear, depression, lost friendship, unemployment and economic problems might give a person a feeling of being lost on a side track of life. They might be bitter from losing what one considers the good life. But the text today teaches us that we might think differently about what seems to be too late for us. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted, Jesus said, Matt 5.4.

A few years ago there was a conference where politicians and church leaders met. Gro Harlem Brundtland expressed what’s expected of the church in today’s society. She used one single word: Hope. Jesus has something to say which goes beyond the political agenda. He has words of comfort and hope. It’s never too late in his eyes. "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God," Jesus said.

Many years ago a lady in Gjøvik had a stroke. She lost vigor. Dependent on a wheelchair and help from others, many would say her life was hopeless. I have visited with her quite a few times. Whenever I ask "How do you do?" she answers: "Thanks, good." She has reconciled with the circumstances of her life. She has a faith which has gotten stronger over the years. To visit with her is a blessing. She is able to see the glory of God in things which others, who are living a busy life, don’t see.

I don’t tell this to put sickness, disaster and distress in a romantic light. There are certainly circumstances of our lives which we rather would have avoided. In today’s text we see that the death of a friend had a tremendous impact on Jesus. When he came to the tomb, it’s written in what is the shortest verse at least in the Norwegian Bible: "Jesus wept." Salt, wet tears ran down on Jesus’ cheeks.

Some religions have a conception of God as the exalted and motionless, distant and unmoved by human pain and longing. The picture of God in the Bible is very different. Jesus has shown us the face of God: a face wet with tears. Jesus has shown us the heart of God, a love which is touched by human happiness and sorrow. Jesus was God who came to share our circumstances. He has sympathy. He walks with us.

A survivor from a nazi concentration camp explained how his faith had been challenged through his experiences. To do that, he told the story about the footprints in the sand that you may have heard: A man looked back on his life. It was like footprints in the sand, one set for him and one for Jesus.

But sometimes there was only one set of footprints, and the man revealed that his life had been really difficult at those times. And he asked Jesus why he had left him then. "I didn’t leave you, " the Lord said. "When you see only one set of footprints in the sand, it was I who carried you."

The story about Lazarus has a strange and mighty end. It’s a gift to be able to reconcile with the circumstances of one’s life, which one can’t have influence on. But sometimes God intervenes and changes everything in a miraculous way. "Lazarus, come out!" Jesus said. And the dead came out. It was almost like an echo of the word of creation: God creates life.

Or maybe we might see it as a glimpse of the resurrection of Jesus himself on Easter Day. In the gospel of John, the Easter events are linked to what happened with Lazarus in a special way. That was the event which caused the Jews to plan to kill Jesus. His death gave Lazarus life. His death gives us life. In the synoptic gospels Jesus’ clearing of the temple is the decisive event when the Jews planned to kill Jesus.

The story of Lazarus is a sign. The deeper meaning lies in Jesus’ words: "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live." John 11:25.

None of us will escape death. But for those who believe it will never be too late. The word future is linked to Jesus Christ. One day he will make everything new. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more. Rev.21.4. We might celebrate All Saints Day with grief. But at the same time we’re welcome to focus on the hope given us in Jesus Christ.

Glory be to God, the Father, Son and The Holy Spirit, one true God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716