Can These Bones Live?

Jeremy Daniels

Seeking: Honest Questions for Deeper Faith • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

Ezekiel 37:1–14

John 11:1–45

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Call to Worship

Have you ever felt washed up, brittle, worn-down to the bone? Have you ever felt grief lay heavy on your back? Have you ever felt like hope was out of reach? Have you ever wondered, can these bones live? If you have, then you are in the right place, for this is God’s house. Hope lives here. So, come. Rest your weary bones. Let us worship Holy God.

Opening Hymn: Spirit of a Living God, Fall Afresh on Me (x3) | UMH 393

call to confession

Friends, there is nothing that we have to keep hidden from God—not our anger, our grief, or the ways in which we have fallen short. In confession, we speak honestly and are met with grace. So let us not hold back. Let us bring our full selves to this prayer, knowing that God is already running to meet us. Let us pray:

prayer of confession

Jesus of Nazareth, I confess: I forget that you know this feeling. I forget that you, too, have wept. I forget that you, too, have lost. I forget that you, too, have gathered at the tomb, have grieved for a friend, have felt the sting of humanity. Forgive me for all the times I place blame on you. Forgive me for all the times I create distance, imagining that you could never feel what I feel. Forgive me for allowing the valley of dry bones to be a sea of space between us. Pour yourself into the cracks in my heart. Bring these bones back to life. Bring me closer to you. With gratitude I pray, amen.

Old Testament Lesson:

Ezekiel 37:1–14 CEB

1 The Lord’s power overcame me, and while I was in the Lord’s spirit, he led me out and set me down in the middle of a certain valley. It was full of bones. 2 He led me through them all around, and I saw that there were a great many of them on the valley floor, and they were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Human one, can these bones live again?” I said, “Lord God, only you know.” 4 He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, Dry bones, hear the Lord’s word! 5 The Lord God proclaims to these bones: I am about to put breath in you, and you will live again. 6 I will put sinews on you, place flesh on you, and cover you with skin. When I put breath in you, and you come to life, you will know that I am the Lord.” 7 I prophesied just as I was commanded. There was a great noise as I was prophesying, then a great quaking, and the bones came together, bone by bone. 8 When I looked, suddenly there were sinews on them. The flesh appeared, and then they were covered over with skin. But there was still no breath in them. 9 He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, human one! Say to the breath, The Lord God proclaims: Come from the four winds, breath! Breathe into these dead bodies and let them live.” 10 I prophesied just as he commanded me. When the breath entered them, they came to life and stood on their feet, an extraordinarily large company. 11 He said to me, “Human one, these bones are the entire house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished. We are completely finished.’ 12 So now, prophesy and say to them, The Lord God proclaims: I’m opening your graves! I will raise you up from your graves, my people, and I will bring you to Israel’s fertile land. 13 You will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you up from your graves, my people. 14 I will put my breath in you, and you will live. I will plant you on your fertile land, and you will know that I am the Lord. I’ve spoken, and I will do it. This is what the Lord says.”

New Testament Lesson:

Romans 8:6–11 CEB

6 The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace. 7 So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. 8 People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God. 9 But you aren’t self-centered. Instead you are in the Spirit, if in fact God’s Spirit lives in you. If anyone doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, they don’t belong to him. 10 If Christ is in you, the Spirit is your life because of God’s righteousness, but the body is dead because of sin. 11 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your human bodies also, through his Spirit that lives in you.

Children's Message

Suckers, Doctors Office, anticipation of crying… as if CRYING isn’t allowed.

Crying suppression, as if crying isn’t necessary.

Pennies for Mission THANKSGIVING Joys and Concerns Lord's Prayer

Words of Forgiveness

Friends, you could spend your whole life ignoring God, pushing God away, or trying to solve the world’s problems all on your own, and God would still love you all the same. Even in our shortcomings, we are God’s beloved. So hear and believe this good news: We are saved by grace through faith. We belong to God. We are not alone.

Hymn of Thanksgiving: Lord of the Dance | UMH 261

Prayer for Illumination Creator God, Why is bad news so loud? In the midst of gun violence, hunger, melting ice caps, and anxiety, it often feels like suffering has a microphone. How do we hear you? How do we find you? How do we know that these bones can live? Today we bring our raw selves into this space asking that once more you would rush through this room like a mighty wind. Remind us that these bones can live. Speak to us in your still, small voice and let it be loud enough to speak to the sorrow of the day. We know that good news rests in you, and we know that you are here. So help us listen, not to the bad news of the day alone, but to the hope that you breathe into every word. With open hearts we pray, amen.

Sermon - "Can These Bones Live?"

Another lengthy Lenten text, so here’s another choppy sermon.

Jesus with his disciples (1-16)

John 11:1–16 CEB

1 A certain man, Lazarus, was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (2 This was the Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was ill.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, “Lord, the one whom you love is ill.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This illness isn’t fatal. It’s for the glory of God so that God’s Son can be glorified through it.” 5 Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was. After two days, 7 he said to his disciples, “Let’s return to Judea again.” 8 The disciples replied, “Rabbi, the Jewish opposition wants to stone you, but you want to go back?” 9 Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours in the day? Whoever walks in the day doesn’t stumble because they see the light of the world. 10 But whoever walks in the night does stumble because the light isn’t in them.” 11 He continued, “Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, but I am going in order to wake him up.” 12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he’s sleeping, he will get well.” 13 They thought Jesus meant that Lazarus was in a deep sleep, but Jesus had spoken about Lazarus’ death. 14 Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. 15 For your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there so that you can believe. Let’s go to him.” 16 Then Thomas (the one called Didymus) said to the other disciples, “Let us go too so that we may die with Jesus.”

The first interesting thing I want to point out about today’s scripture is the fact that the Gospel writer is including some information that hasn’t even been written about in his own Gospel yet.

So the writer must’ve been familiar with this other story before he wrote his.

The writer must assume that others, whom he is writing this for, must’ve already heard about the story in reference ; or else his writing about it here in Chapter 11 makes no sense since he himself wouldn't’ touch on the subject until the following Chapter. John 12:1-11 to be exact.

The story about Mary washing the feet of Jesus was yet to have been documented in this Gospel text; yet they are referencing it here in John 11:2 “(2 This was the Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was ill.)”

The role of Mary and Martha must’ve been super important for them to be the key reference to this wonderful story of resurrection about their brother Lazarus; that they would be the one HE was related to; instead of HIM being the main focus.

Yet, here he is being referenced to this historical figure that hasn’t even come up in their own writings, so the lovely take away I have is how wonderful and awesome is it; that God saw fit for women to have as important of a role in the telling of the Gospel story; that throughout the writings we see just important women are to not only the telling of the Gospel, but the spread of the Gospel, the witness to the resurrection and to the set up here that we have for the resurrection of a man; a man so important that he’s introduced by relationship to his two sisters; that meant so much to Jesus, to God the father, and to the Holy Spirit that helped put all of these writings together for us to have God’s Holy Word.

Now that we have that explained and laid out, let’s look at the rest of the text this week.

While Jesus was navigating life and traveling some more, he’s approached with some devastating news regarding a dear friend of his.

Much like last weeks text, where we saw the disciples questioning WHO SINNED, referring to the blind man or his parents;

Jesus knows the answer and knows also that what is about to happen in the case of Lazarus; and what had already happened with regardless to the man being born blind ; was going to be a way in which God would be glorified.

He told the disciples in John 11:4 “...Jesus said, “This illness isn’t fatal. It’s for the glory of God so that God’s Son can be glorified through it.”” So what did Jesus mean by that?

To the disciples, it meant that Lazarus wasn’t ill; instead when Jesus said he was sleeping; they literally thought that Jesus mean Lazarus was just asleep, resting, taking it easy, not doing too much.

Lazarus was in fact dying, if not already dead by the time word got to Jesus. And just like we’ve seen before with the blind man; God is going to do something amazing with this man’s story.

Much like the words we heard earlier from the OT lesson from Ezekiel 37: 3 “3 He asked me, “Human one, can these bones live again?” I said, “Lord God, only you know.”” When we stop to think about these two stories, it’s easy to see in hindsight that “Lord God, only you know.”

So when Jesus explains this further, once again using this as a teaching time about The Light and the darkness; Jesus again being the Light of the World; and darkness meaning how life would soon be without Him in it… he finally mentions the need to go and see and wake up his friend Lazarus.

The Disciples again still think that he’s talking about “sleeping” instead of death.

Jesus corrects them and confirms that he is in fact dead; but that he would go and wake him.

Why would he do that?

Why would he have hesitated and waited?

As he states to the disciples, in John 11:14-15 “14 Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. 15 For your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there so that you can believe. Let’s go to him.”” if it was the “but” that got me stuck last week; this week it’s got to be the words found here in the middle of verse 15, “SO THAT”

He explains something bad happened, followed up by SO THAT, belief and faith can occur. One bad experience can be used, SO THAT, others may know and believe. Amen. I’m thankful that even when things that are bad, cause grief, acknowledge suffering; can be used SO THAT others may believe.

God takes the bad and out of it, comes good. SO THAT...

Also, shout out to Mr. Thomas who had the gaul to suggest, against the advice of the other disciples, to press on “so that” (theres those words again) “so that we may die with Jesus.”

In the face of sure death, Thomas at that point and time, wasn’t doubting, wasn’t suggesting to retreat, wasn’t asking Jesus to rethink things; but was ready to go and even DIE by following Jesus into hostile territory.

Just wanted to give Thomas his shout out before we get to Easter and the first Sunday after Easter… IYKYK

Moving on...

Jesus meets with Martha (17-27)

John 11:17–27 CEB

17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was a little less than two miles from Jerusalem. 19 Many Jews had come to comfort Martha and Mary after their brother’s death. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary remained in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Even now I know that whatever you ask God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She replied, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, the one who is coming into the world.”

So Jesus leaves, Jesus arrives, but others had already been there. It had been 4 days since Lazarus was placed in the tomb. Others from around the area had come to show their support for the family.

So when Jesus arrives, he’s first greeted by Martha, and boy did she have some words to share with Jesus once he got there. She heard he was coming and left the area around the tomb to go and meet Jesus head on.

Martha expressed her grief to Jesus and said “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” Showing her faith in the healer, the master, Jesus. Had he only been present, surely he could have done SOMETHING.

But remember, Lazarus death was going to be used SO THAT others could believe.

God had a plan.

Martha is upset that Jesus wasn’t there, yet Martha still has faith that Jesus can still make a miracle happen for her brother.

Jesus uses this as an opportunity, much like he had with the disciples before they journeyed through hostile land to get to the tomb of Lazarus; that the resurrection was going to take place.

Martha assumed the resurrection “on the last day”

But Jesus reminds her that HE IS the resurrection and the life. She replied by confirming that she knew he was in fact the Christ, God’s Son.

Moving on...

Jesus meets with Mary (28-35)

John 11:28–35 CEB

28 After she said this, she went and spoke privately to her sister Mary, “The teacher is here and he’s calling for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Jesus. 30 He hadn’t entered the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were comforting Mary in the house saw her get up quickly and leave, they followed her. They assumed she was going to mourn at the tomb. 32 When Mary arrived where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her crying and the Jews who had come with her crying also, he was deeply disturbed and troubled. 34 He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They replied, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus began to cry.

Martha leaves the side of Jesus, her friend and the word tells us that she “spoke privately to her sister Mary”

Uh oh! A Private conversation between two upset and grieving sisters. I wonder how this will go?

Remember a few weeks ago when I talked about the private group chats that had one less person in it; you know, so they could talk about that person in private … I can only imagine this conversation going a little something like that one.

We may never know the full extent of the conversation between these two sisters, BUT the scriptures tell us that Martha alerts Mary to Jesus’s arrival. Mary leaves and goes to find Jesus, while those who had come to visit saw this; they assumed she was going to the tomb and got up and followed her. Causing quite a scene… we now have the prime opportunity for God to perform miracles.

Mary first confronts Jesus with similar words that her sister Martha had already directed towards Jesus. If you were here, my brother wouldn’t have died.

How often do we know someone, or have we been the someone, who might’ve muttered, cried, lashed out & even screamed these very words before?

Have we ever felt that God wasn’t there for us in our time of need?

Too often, as a pastor, I’m often asked similar questions framed a bit differently in how can it be that God doesn’t always answer our prayers with the answers WE want?

While I don’t have the answer for that, I can say that even when bad things happen, even in the face of death itself; God will use this for his purpose.

Jesus sees her tears.

He takes notice.

Jesus sees those who came with her and their tears.

He takes notice.

Jesus himself the pain of loss and even though he knows what’s about to happen; that doesn’t take away the sadness that comes with Death.

The one that would soon go and defeat death - face to face; he is showing his human side here.

Through the LOVE that he has for his friend, the greek word used here isn’t he common one agape - but philia - which means “friendship”. Jesus is mourning the loss of his friend Lazarus.

Here we have the shortest verse in the bible, according to different translations such as the KJV that state, 35 Jesus wept.

Moving on...

Jesus calls out Lazarus (36-45)

John 11:36–45 CEB

36 The Jews said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “He healed the eyes of the man born blind. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” 38 Jesus was deeply disturbed again when he came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone covered the entrance. 39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said, “Lord, the smell will be awful! He’s been dead four days.” 40 Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?” 41 So they removed the stone. Jesus looked up and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 I know you always hear me. I say this for the benefit of the crowd standing here so that they will believe that you sent me.” 43 Having said this, Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his feet bound and his hands tied, and his face covered with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” 45 Therefore, many of the Jews who came with Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him.

Here we see those in attendance witness the sadness that Jesus had. They start to question and wonder if he could do the things he did for others; referring back to the miracle we discussed last week with the opening of the eyes of the man born blind; that surely he could do a miracle for Lazarus.

I know I quoted the KJV a moment ago to drive home my point of it being the shortest verse of scripture in the bible. But this text reminds me of my 2nd favorite KJV specific verse of scripture that’s found in verse 39.

John 11:39 CEB says “39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said, “Lord, the smell will be awful! He’s been dead four days.””

King James Version Chapter 11

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

Something about STINKETH being such a more powerful word to drive the point home that DEATH STINKS. DEATH is horrid, it’s awful, and yet here we are; faced with it.

Here comes the SO THAT part that we mentioned earlier. As in Verse 40, Jesus replies back to Martha “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?” And as they removed the stone, Jesus thanked God for hearing him, SO THAT they will believe that you sent me.

Yes, this was a mighty miracle.

Yes it helped others to believe.

Yes it also helped solidify the oppositions case against him that would lead to his own death.

But YES it was part of the plan all along, SO THAT...

So That, we too could believe.

So the stone was rolled away, Jesus shouted “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, feet bound, hands tied, face covered.... DEATH had made this man STINKETH, God made him come alive once more.

SO THAT, as we finished with the final verse of today’s text, John 11:45 “45 Therefore, many of the Jews who came with Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him.”

SO THAT, those who saw, now then believed.

Church, there are things in our live that we have to go through, where we are faced with challenging situations, life changing circumstances, tough decisions and unwanted outcomes. My prayer is that in those moments, like starring at the face of death, being amongst those weeping and lamenting the loss of a dear loved one; that God can use that situation to help strengthen the belief of someone else.

As many of you know, we lost my dad back in December.

As many of you know, I was able to stand and give witness to the life of my father.

Was it easy, no. Was it difficult, absolutely. Was my being able to make it through that day with the help of God - a witness unto others in my family who still question the HOW? Absolutely. I can point to the HOW, his name is Jesus Christ. It was through him and ONLY through him, that death has no sting, that death doesn’t get the last word, the last laugh. That death is merely a temporary thing for us to go through here on earth.

You see, I can vividly look back and remember how my life when faced with death during my time “away from Christ”.

Both my grandmother, the last remaining one I had, and my uncle, passed away while I was not living the life I should have. I had walked away from the church, from God, and anything that had to do with Jesus for a short time in my life.

During their two passings, I was a complete and utter mess of a fool when it came time for their funerals. I remember sobbing and not being able to read a poem for my grandmother; I remember not being able to walk up the aisle to say goodbye to my uncle one last time.

I was a certified HOT MESS of an individual.

I have since been faced with death in my family; losing two aunts, my father, and even weeks after that; another uncle. Had it not been for my faith, my relationship with Jesus Christ, and my understanding of death - through scriptures like we read here today, through the promise of Easter Resurrection that we’ll be celebrating here in a few weeks; had it not been for that change in my life - I would still be that HOT MESS.

But praise be to God, that I now know death as a temporary separation, that the power of the resurrection that is to COME, brings so much hope, joy, and excitement to my life.

I say all of that, SO THAT, others may be encouraged and strengthened in their understanding and dealing with death as well.

Let us look back to the words found in Ezekiel 37 as we close with prayer...

Common English Bible Chapter 37

12 So now, prophesy and say to them, The LORD God proclaims: I’m opening your graves! I will raise you up from your graves, my people, and I will bring you to Israel’s fertile land. 13 You will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and raise you up from your graves, my people. 14 I will put my breath in you, and you will live. I will plant you on your fertile land, and you will know that I am the LORD. I’ve spoken, and I will do it. This is what the LORD says.”

Let us pray...

Through your breath, you give life to death, to dry bones. Through your word, you give life to death, to those that once STINKETH with death. Now may they live, through the resurrection may they have eternal life. May we rejoice and free ourselves from the death-cloth of SIN that binds us up and keeps us from living the life you have called us to. Grant us peace and mercy in our time of need. Grant us life and love through your resurrection power. In your name we give thanks, Amen.

THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT seeking: Can these bones live? the answer is yes

It’s the question we ask at the end of our rope, when the storm is raging, when the monsters under the bed have introduced themselves.

When everything around us seems to be on fire.

It’s the question we ask when hope slips through like sand in a bottle, when the mockingbirds stop singing, when the news reporter leads with another mass shooting.

It’s the question we ask when the depression moves in, making herself at home, making a mess of it all.

It’s the question we ask when we’re not sure if Easter will come.

Will it be Lent forever? Will the sun ever rise? Will this hope lead to something? Can these bones ever live?

RESPONSE Offertory Doxology Offering Prayer

Almighty and restoring God, we have been living through some difficult days, as churches and as individuals. We experience days when we rise, wondering if we will make it through one more day, whether the church will survive for another generation; and we feel like those dry bones in the valley. As we offer our tithes and offerings, help us to hear the word of hope the prophet shares, not just with our ears but with our hearts. May it call us back to life and service, out of the graves of despair in which we have buried ourselves. In Christ’s holy name. Amen.

Affirmation of Faith

We believe that God loves us— God loves us enough to weep when we are gone. We believe that God does not give up on us— breathing new life into tired bones. We believe that God returns to us— always seeking us when we are lost. We believe that God holds hope for us— so we hold onto hope as well. We believe, help our unbelief. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.

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Benediction Postlude - Joy

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