Sermon Tone Analysis

Mercy More Than Life

Intro - after thanks…[talk about Gospel journey, and setup text.

This text comes on the heels of last week, but it is removed in time quite a bit.

But this event happens just after the people tried to kill Jesus by stoning…]

Walk through the first part of the text.

Use Bible, but do it in a contemporary style and relaxed.

Read vs 4.

Read vs 10b.

stop at vs 11.

Bring everything to the point - I want you to know something today that other pastors may gloss over from time to time.

Jesus knew Lazarus would die.

And in this moment in the text, verse 11, Jesus knew Lazarus was dead, because Lazarus would have been in His presence!

So it is safe to say, then, that Jesus wanted, even needed Lazarus to die.

And He needed that, so that He could show the world, that He, and in turn we, should value His will, and ultimately, His mercy more than life - especially life as we know it.

“Lazarus is dead,” Jesus says, “and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.”

May we believe today as well as we read our text.

John 11:17

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Pray

[commercial pic]

I need to admit to you the inspiration for at least this title today.

Like most of us, I have been watching the Olympics the past couple weeks, and I have really been moved by several of the commercials.

They are similar to those that were shown during the super bowl.

But these really focus in on overcoming obstacles, and not letting physical or mental limits stand in our way.

One of them does that by showing an array of athletes.

They are speaking through a familiar poem, one that eventually became one of our most cherished songs.

America the Beautiful.

And the words they remind us of are so poignant for this moment in time.

This moment when between entertainment, and technology, and society in general, we are so wrapped up in self.

In what can be beneficial for me.

What can I do for me?

How can I experience life better?

What’s in it for me?

These words are words that shake us out of those feelings, the very same feelings that Mary and Martha surely had in this moment.

God, why weren’t you here?

If you had been here, my brother would not have died!

I want my brother to live, so why didn’t you give it to me?

I want my brother to live, so why didn’t you give it to me?

We feel that too.

We feel that about death.

We feel that about jobs, or schools, or spouses, or cars, or houses - we feel that about a lot of stuff that we value.

And there in this text, and that song, lies a common theme, one that hopefully we can as a church, and a community, and even as a country, latch on to in this moment.

What makes us beautiful?

What makes us appealing?

What makes us aspire to greatness?

What values, what common morality, what thing should we aspire to - apart from Christ - that would help us to actually be more like Christ and understand Him just a little better?

That is what Jesus was trying to get Mary and Martha, and even all those around them and His own disciples; that is what Jesus was trying to get them to understand.

And that is what Jesus wants us to understand as well.

But that commercial.

Why do I mention it?

Well it aspires to that same end.

In fact, it holds up the best of what we collectively could ever be!

And it does that, because it calls us to live a life that looks and thinks like Jesus!

Here the words used in the commercial, which come from the third stanza of that great song.

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life!

America!

America!

May God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness,

And every gain divine!

What a message!

Let me tell you, when I hear that, something wells up in my soul.

This proud, patriotic presence that knows the depths of the greatness that people can aspire to!

I can see the brave heroes who proved themselves brave not by having such a high moral character, or so much money, but by seeing oppression and hate, and standing in the gap for those unable to stand for themselves, no matter the cost!

No, they were brave simply by liberating the oppressed.

I can see those who loved the idea of a country where all men, and women - regardless of their station or the color of their skin or even their religion!

I can see it, because I can see in them, and in Jesus, what we are all called to hold on to in this life!

We are called to love mercy more than life.

At the very least, we are called to love mercy more than life as we know it.

Mercy more than those things that we think we need, or that make us comfortable.

Mercy more than our typical “life.”

[jesuscomfortingmarymartha]

But that’s just a song, right?

Well, it is more than that.

You see, I believe that is why Jesus didn’t just save Lazarus right away.

I believe that is why Jesus had to let him die!

Jesus needed an opportunity to show them, and all the world, that life is something to be thankful for, sure enough, but it isn’t what is of greatest value to God!

And accordingly, it isn’t what should be of greatest value to us either!

Just look at His reaction!

He comes to town and is met by Martha who immediately questions Him.

Why weren’t you here?

“If you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

That sounds just like us.

We have all felt that same feeling.

Where is God?

If He was here, this would never have happened.

But I wonder, are we capable, in this day and age, to move on, like Martha, to the important part?

“But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

She says.

It is then, church, when Martha confronts her desire for life - life as she wants it and knows it - that Jesus grants her mercy.

Your brother will rise again.

There is mercy for those who sleep in Christ.

There will be another dawn!

There are eyes that are watching Him even now, so don’t be afraid!

Your brother will rise!

He is right in the palm of my hand.

“Yes, Lord.”

Martha replies.