What Happens Next - John 11 - Lent 5A

What Happens Next

Tony E Hansen

Sermon based upon John 11; Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130; romans 8: 6-11

Opening Prayer

When I was a young boy, ABC broadcaster a movie called “The Day After.” For those of you who never saw it. Let me give you some context.  At the height of the Cold War, there were genuine scares due to missiles in Cuba and then we had this movie in the early 80s. 

This movie went beyond the “what-if” questions and showed, in spectacular gruesome detail, what could be possible if the Americans and Soviets launched nuclear war.  Set in Lawrence, KS as well as Kansas City made this instantly recognizable and even more scary how close this could get; how places I knew could turn to ash, farms turned worthless, animals dead in fields, millions evaporated, and structures vanish. 

No one stops it nor protects us from what happens next.

We can turn off the video or TV and then go about our day like nothing happened; but this movie did not shy from the idea that all life, all places and all people (even the rural middle of America) are impacted by war. 

Question: Why are we so willing to send kids into harms way? For politicians’ egos? Why talk? Bomb them instead… Why see other people as real, loving people - as loving parents, brothers and sisters? (Besides, let’s put our good expensive equipment to use.) 

It doesn’t have to be nuclear annihilation. Some person is driving a truck to work - suddenly is burning rubble. Kids at school don’t come home to parents. Your home and business destroyed; food supply reduced to a trickle: a military-induced famine.

What are people supposed to feel ? Thanks I needed that. Just take one-on-the-chin from bullies? Usually, one side gets mad - retaliates. I mean: how dare someone retaliate? 

Is that how we should feel if a bully attacks us? 

What happened in response to 9-11? Did we take time to learn anything or turn the other cheek? Like most, I wanted to punch back! Someone has to pay for my grief, my shock!

While people were still crying from rubble, and questions were many, America responded with missiles, with invasive laws, with invasions. That continues today in Iran. Why? To prove America is tough? 

When does it end? Mutual Annihilation? 

Are we safer or looking around the corner ? -> No is the answer. Further, we trade liberty for false security. 

The problem is that violent attacks perpetuate the next violence.  (You may have knocked me down now, but revenge will be served.)  That is how bullies create their future terrorists: even bullies’  own demise. 

(Interesting how movies, like KarateKid, romanticize these themes, but we never see ourselves as instigators.)

Lessons get lost in anger. Again, someone has to pay for sore pain and grief. Osama hit us; we responded in full force and beyond eye-for-an-eye for more than 20 years. We use that attack to justify wars upon unrelated people without the slightest concern for future repercussions. 

Instead of shepherding the world into Christ’s vision of cooperation and welcome, America took more sinister route - submitted to devilish temptations. Now, as the bully, there will be retaliation, vindication. 

War consumes.

Unlike the sensation of explosion videos, there is no escape from war. 

When we ignore the divine lessons, that continues. 

In John’s gospel, we witness the familiar text of Jesus raising his friend (Martha’s and Mary’s brother) Lazarus.

When the tower of Siloam fell, Jesus showed grief in discussing the tragedy. That was death from afar.  Yet death happens and grief surrounds death.

Unlike casual death from afar, there is no escape from death or grief.

There are powerful, real emotions that surround grief. 

Denial: “Lord if he has fallen asleep, he will be alright…” 

Anger - questioning:  “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have..”

Loss and weeping. Even Jesus couldn’t stop from crying over this experience.  

For some the anger turns to hate and revenge - someone needs to pay…

Why? Death is real and inevitable for us mortals, and like Paul says, flesh will die. That is unavoidable truth. It is part of our lives to witness death around us.

What happens then? We are living now. We can witness the stories reported, but are we just spectators? Our response ought to consider whether we use raw emotions (the flesh) or lean into the Spirit.  

Jesus, the Lamb, could not escape death or the grief that surrounds it. 

Jesus doesn’t judge Mary, Martha, or the disciples for their grief . He does not link sin to the events. No false purity test of righteousness.

Jesus doesn’t rattle off nonsensical rhetoric to pacify but perhaps leans into the story of Ezekiel and how the four winds resurrected dry bones in a valley.

Jesus does not mince words, “Lazarus is dead…” Jesus consoles. Despite threats of violence and more, Jesus goes to be with them. 

He is grieving, especially upon seeing the sisters swimming in emotion. Jesus leans into the Spirit, consoles and lifts up.

The sisters also lean into their faith and trust.  What happens next is a sign of their faith. Lazarus wakes up and is present.

Instead of turning our hurt and pain into hostility, anger and hate of violence, we can do something else. Instead of looking for someone to blame… 

We ought to be helping others lift up the fallen, hold ones stricken with sorrow, and guide vengeful anger towards compassion and forgiveness. 

I wonder what the world would look like if America paused, before sending bombs and troops, to ask if we should and how far we should go? 

I wonder what our world would be like if we spent the money used on the bombs and military gear instead upon people and lifting up people. 

Seems like DOGE could have found significant savings along with global goodwill, and American idealism by redirecting money for violence sake towards values for Christ’s sake.

When we do that, then thoughts of nuclear holocaust are just a movie and perhaps an old idea needing to be retired.  I fear, instead, we may have reminded the world what unrestrained violence and unmitigated bullying does.

Let us pray that we remember Jesus example before its too late and that the coming retaliation be merciful in execution. Let us pray we heed the lessons of history and Ezekiel’s witness of dry bones after war and restoration. May God breathe into our dry bones and hearts the living Spirit. 

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!

Amen