Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: Have you ever wondered if evil is taking over?

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the pressures of this world?

Sometimes it seems like Death has the upper hand.

Death is the Enemy

We must all face death

Good Housekeeping

Death and dying are always on the back burners of everyone's mind, from preschoolers to the oldest adult.

Some nine-year-old children were asked what they thought of death and dying.

Jim said, "When you die, they bury you in the ground and your soul goes to heaven, but your body can't go to heaven, because it's too crowded up there already."

Judy said, "Only the good people go to heaven.

The other people go where it's hot all the time, like in Florida."

John said, "Maybe I'll die someday, but I hope I don't die on my birthday because it's no fun to celebrate it if you're dead."

Marsha commented, "When you die, you don't have to do homework in heaven, unless your teacher is there, too."

We have different responses to death and funerals - ignore, dwell, fear

Woody Allen

"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work.

I want to achieve immortality through not dying."

It's not that I'm afraid to die.

I just don't want to be there when it happens.

This story, however, seems to be more than what meets the eye.

Death here is not just physical death - Lazarus dies again - it is the enemy, deterioration, the Curse, Satan’s victory.

So when Jesus speaks about resurrection it is more than a resuscitation-

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life

Conversation with Martha

In Jesus’ day, many believed in a general resurrection

Jesus is talking about more than an event.

Jesus embodies the resurrection and all it means.

While Resurrection “is” an event - Jesus’, the general - Lazarus - We have no choice - either he did or he did not - the story is making the claim that this event actually happened, not metaphorical, mythical, simply symbolic.

Painstaking timing - Lazarus sick, when messenger left, but died shortly after, 1-day journey to find Jesus, Jesus lingered 2 days, then 1 day travel to Bethel - he comes on the 4th day, day of decay.

More than an event - Resurrection is embodied in Christ.

Since Christ is alive Resurrection is present tense not future tense for Christians IN Christ.

It is a reality that impacts the totality of life.

So what difference does the resurrection make in our every day living?

Jesus is More Powerful than Death

Those who saw the resurrection of Lazarus saw God’s power

Some believed and some were scared

“God does his best work in cemetaries” - K. Korver

We are talking about everything that is tied to death.

To illustrate “grave clothes” issues that need to come off of us, take a roll of toilet paper and, with sheets still intact, write in large letters common sin patterns that are destructive (for example: forgotten, addicted to pornography, cursing, hateful, unforgiveness, gossip, angry outbursts, lying, alcoholism, immorality, impurity, condemning myself, fear of humans, etc.).

Then wrap a person in this roll of paper like a mummy and have them waiting a bit out of sight until the point in the message when you are ready.

Have the mummy come out and unwrap him/her.

Call out the words as you take them off and replace them with the opposite, based on who we are in Christ (“You are no longer hateful.

In Christ, you are called beloved.

You are no longer forgotten.

In Christ, you are sought out.”).

It means God is winning when all evidence in your life points to the opposite.

It means believing that Jesus can and will heal.

It means believing that Jesus can and will heal, when he doesn’t

It means carrying with us a strong confidence in the face of death, difficulty, temptation, etc..

It means that even when we die to ourselves, or die physically, death does not have the upper hand, Christ does.

So though we mourn over deaths effects, and know it is real, we are not caught off guard, because we know Christ will overcome.

Conclusion:

Cancer is limited

When Dan Richardson, and enthusiastic believer in Christ, lost his battle with Cancer, the following piece was disbributed at his memorial service.

Cancer is limited….

It cannot cripple love,

It cannot corrode faith,

It cannot eat away peace,

It cannot destroy confidence,

It cannot kill a friendship,

It cannot shut out memories,

It cannot silence courage,

It cannot invade the soul,

It cannot reduce eternal life,

It cannot quench the spirit,

It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.

-Charles R. Swindoll, The Finishing Touch.

Give an invitation for people to exchange old life for new life in Christ.

Jesus IS the resurrection and the life.

He can breathe life into our ashes, into our dead bodies and lives.

Provide an opportunity for response and personal prayer for those who are struggling in the midst of pain or doubt (like Mary), as well as those who long to know the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus, for the first time.

Be sure to also offer personal prayer for those who are struggling to remove their grave clothes, despite the resurrection Christ has given them.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis.

Heidelberg Chatechism: Q&A 45, 49-51, 57-58 Belgic Confession: Articles 20, 37