Psych Evaluation complete

Home from Kennewick. Two long days, but I think my psych evaluation went pretty well. I am ready for the next step, my candidacy interview on May 9.

Parish site revealed

The Bishop notified me today of the parish site he has in mind for me pending their approval and the outcome of my candidacy interview and psych evaluation.  Once those are done I will reveal the location. Please pray all goes well.

Gospel messsage from today

I was given the privilege of leading worship today.  What follows is the message I presented: 

Gospel Message

04/06/2014

John 11:1-44

Please pray with me.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts together be pleasing to you, oh God!  Amen

Over the past several weeks I have been reading and ‘studying up’ on many subjects in preparation for beginning seminary studies.  One of the books I have been reading is a study of the Gospels.  This book focuses on the origination, authorship, translation and interpretation of the four Gospels. 

Interestingly, well to me anyway, is one of the beliefs about the authorship of the Gospel of John.  Many scholars and theologians, including Martin Luther, present compelling arguments that the author could have been Lazarus, the subject of our Gospel lesson today. 

Let’s take a look at this Gospel lesson.  Initially we hear that a man is ill.  It is Lazarus of Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha.  We remember that Mary was the one who anointed Jesus feet.  Both Mary and Martha are distraught over the death of their brother and send for Jesus.  The message to Jesus is, “the one your love is ill”.  The writer of John is often referred to as the beloved disciple or the one who Jesus loved. And on several occasions we hear in John of the love Jesus had for Lazarus.

Upon hearing of Lazarus illness, Jesus’ response is to say that the illness is not fatal, but it he is ill so that God may be glorified.  So Jesus was not in a hurry to go to Lazarus. 

My grandmother made the best yeast rolls.  Her rolls were always a focus of meals at her house.  When asked about the secret to making great yeast rolls, she would reply, “There are two important ingredients—patience and timing—“.  You see the rolls had to be placed on the counter to raise to just the right level before they were placed in the oven to bake.  They then had to be left in the oven for just the right amount of time in order to bake completely.  Taken out too soon and they would be doughy, left too long and they would become hockey pucks.  Grandma knew the ‘right’ time to put the rolls in the oven and the ‘right’ time to take them out.

 

The disciples must have been really confused by Jesus lax attitude about going to the aid of his friend.  However, Jesus knew there would be a ‘right’ time to go to Lazarus and when that time came he went with his disciples back to Judea.  Despite the warnings from his disciples that there were those there in Judea who wanted him stoned.  In verses nine and ten we hear, Jesus answer, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them."  Suggesting to them that He was the light which would keep them safe though they were heading into darkness.

Thomas, also known as the Twin, shows his understanding in saying in verse 16, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”  In this Thomas was not referring to Lazarus but to Jesus.  Thomas understands the mounting danger which faces Jesus and all of them.  So why go at all.  If Jesus truly had the power to heal, he could do it from anywhere.  He really did not need to go to Lazarus in order to heal him.  He went partly as a way to prepare his followers for the persecution they would endure after his ascension. 

You see it was all about the proper timing.  Jesus knew that in order for his followers to believe, the timing needed to be right.  In raising Lazarus, Jesus demonstrates that he is the resurrection and the life.  There is something important to understand here.  Rabbinic beliefs were that the soul hovers over the body for three days and then departs when decomposition sets in.  The Gospel writer’s point here is that only a genuine miracle could account for Lazarus being brought back to life.

There is also importance in the family of Lazarus, for he, Mary, Mary and Martha were from a prominent Jewish family.  This allowed for there to be much interest in Lazarus death and many Jews came to comfort the sisters.  Who would also be witness to Jesus raising Lazarus.

 When Martha hears that Jesus is coming we hear she goes running to meet Him.  Upon reaching him, Martha, maybe somewhat frustrated, tells Jesus if he had arrived earlier, her brother may still be alive. But she follows her frustration with a statement of faith by saying to Jesus, “Now that you are here it will all be OK.  Because I know God will give you whatever you ask.” And Jesus reassures her saying, “Your brother will rise again.” 

Martha’s interpretation of this was to say, “I know he will rise in the last day.” to which Jesus replies, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”  He then challenges her by saying, “Do you believe this?”.  Martha responded yes.

“Do you believe this?!”  Do you have yes response?  We confess it in worship, we state it in our prayer, do we live it in our heart, and do we put action to it in our daily lives?

Belief causes the Christian to say Amen, we need to witness.

     Conviction causes the Christian to get up and witness.
Belief causes the Christian to have pity for the lost.
     Conviction causes the Christian to stop at nothing for the lost.
Belief causes the Christian to promise God they will share.
     Conviction causes the Christian to repent and be faithful.
Belief causes the Christian to know what needs done.
     Conviction causes the Christian to do it.

The Gospel goes on to tell us when Martha summoned Mary to Jesus, she came immediately.  She had an immediate need to see Him, to mourn with Him, to allow Him to comfort her.  He was deeply moved by her sorrow. In fact he was moved to tears.  Even the Jews were moved by his display of emotion and his deep love for Lazarus.  Others could not understand why the one who had healed the blind could not save his friend.  To them we say stay tuned!

He seeks out the place where Lazarus has been entombed.  Going to this place he asks for the stone covering the tomb to be removed.  Martha reminds him that by this time there would be a stench from the decaying body.  To which Jesus responds, “Did I not tell you if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

Jesus then prayed loudly so that all of those standing around would know that He had been sent by God.  He then ordered Lazarus to come out of the tomb.  When he did Lazarus, bound in linen strips, wrapped in cloth, came out, and Jesus said, “Unbind him, him and let him go.”

 Like Mary and Martha, there is no reason to believe he doesn’t do the same for us.  When we are hurting, he is hurting, when we cry he cries.  Not only does he mourn and weep with us but he takes all of the sorrow and pain away. 

What we don’t read on our gospel today is what comes in Chapter 12 (and we read it because we didn’t hear enough gospel today.)  We learn that great crowds gathered.  We read in verses 9-11, “When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. 

The story of Lazarus is only found in the Gospel of John.  Unlike the other three gospels this account comes right before the passion story.  In the synoptic gospels we find the destruction of the temple prior to the passion narrative.

Some scholars believe it was placed here as a pre-telling of the Passion and that it was the raising of Lazarus which angered Caiaphas, leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.

 
And the conclusion about authorship about this Gospel.  It remains unknown.  There is certainly strong evidence it could have been Lazarus.  Beloved by Jesus, played a major role in converting Jews to followers, and became a precursor to the Passion story.

Today we heard a story of great love, we saw the very human Jesus weep at the loss of his dear friend.  And we saw the revelation of the very God Jesus in bringing his friend back to life. Now what lies ahead?

 

What we do know is in the coming two weeks we will witness the greatest act of love in human history.  Jesus, the man, rides triumphantly into Jerusalem,

to the shouts and praises of the masses,

only to be betrayed…arrested…condemned…and crucified.

No greater sacrifice of love has ever been given for you…for me…and for all people.  And it’s a story which doesn’t end there, Lazarus foretold us of the rest of the story.  Jesus is coming back, he is rising so that our life does not end in death but in life with Him in heaven.

Interview date is set

Today I submitted the last of my paperwork prior to my psych profile and interview with the candidacy committee.  Both dates are set  April 15 & 16th is my psych profile in Kennewick, WA and on May 9 is the date for my interview with the candidacy committee.  Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare mentally for these next steps. 

Also, if you are in Twin, I am preaching Sunday at Our Savior, please accept my invitation to attend at 9:30am.  Now I need to get back to working on my message for Sunday.  Blessings.