WEBVTT 00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:07.120 There's a moment in today's gospel that changes everything. 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:18.879 Jesus stands in front of the tomb, a sealed, dark, hopeless place, and he cries out, Lazarus, come out. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:22.640 And the dead man walks out. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:29.839 If you hear this just as a miracle story, you've missed it. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:35.600 This is not just about Lazarus, this is about all of us. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:41.600 For the past three weeks the church has been leading us somewhere. 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:47.359 Not randomly, not accidentally, very intentional. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:53.200 Two weeks ago you'll remember we heard about the Samaritan woman at the well. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:56.159 The theme was thirst. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:04.400 A woman trying to satisfy everything in her life and still came up empty. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:08.400 Last week the man born blind. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:16.000 The theme was blindness, a man unable to see what was right in front of him. 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:23.439 And today the rising of Lazarus, the raising up of Lazarus. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:29.280 The theme is death, not physical death, spiritual death. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:34.400 Here's the uncomfortable truth. 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:41.680 Most people we know, maybe someone here, most people, they're just existing. 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:43.680 They're functioning. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:49.040 Day to day one day bleeds into the next. 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:52.799 They're busy, but are they spiritual? 00:01:55.040 --> 00:02:08.719 They could be dead, alive on the outside, but disconnected on the inside, going through the motions, but no real life of God within them. 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:12.639 And we become very good at hiding it. 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:19.919 We dress it up, we distract ourselves, we fill our schedules to the brim. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:24.639 We are constantly scrolling through social media. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:37.280 We work hard, we achieve, we entertain, but underneath it all there's this silence, almost a numbness, a distance from God. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:44.639 Jesus walks into that reality today and he does something shocking. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:48.800 He doesn't avoid the tomb, he goes straight up to it. 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:54.560 And then he says something that should shake us, take away that stone. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:02:57.680 Do you hear that? 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:02.159 He doesn't try to remove the stone himself. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:05.280 He tells them to do it. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:10.400 Because before resurrection there has to be exposure. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:14.719 Before life there has to be honesty. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:22.000 And Martha resists, Lord, by now there must be a stench. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:24.639 He's been dead for four days. 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:28.639 What that translates into is don't go there. 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:30.719 It's too far gone. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:34.319 It's too embarrassing, it's too broken. 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:38.479 And if we're honest, that's all of us. 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:44.479 There are areas of our life we don't want God to touch, at least not yet. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:51.759 Old wounds, hidden sins, patterns we've made peace with. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:55.039 We say, Lord, not that. 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:03.199 But here's the thing, you can't experience resurrection if you keep the tomb sealed. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:08.080 And then comes that line, Lazarus come out. 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:14.639 Jesus does not negotiate with death, he commands it. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:17.360 And Lazarus comes out. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:20.000 But notice one thing. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:22.879 He comes out still bound. 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:31.839 Hands are tied, feet tied, face covered, alive, but not yet free. 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:35.759 And Jesus is something most people overlook. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:38.160 Untie him and let him go. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:42.000 That's the spiritual life. 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:48.160 Christ raises you, but then you have to be freed. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:54.240 Because it is possible to be alive and still live like you're dead. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:05:02.959 Still bound to habits, still bound to fear, still bound to those sins. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:07.120 And here's where the gospel becomes very direct. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:13.199 Because Jesus is not just showing his power, he's asking for your response. 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:16.560 He says to Martha, do you believe this? 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:20.319 Not, do you understand this? 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:24.879 Not do you somewhat agree with what I'm saying? 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:27.519 No, he says, do you believe this? 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:31.279 Because belief is not intellectual. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:33.120 Belief is surrender. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:37.040 This is where everything comes together. 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:41.360 From the last three weeks, thirst, blindness, death. 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:47.199 We are thirsty for meaning, and we search and search and search. 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:49.600 We're blind to the truth. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:52.720 He's standing right there in front of us. 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:56.959 And without Christ we are completely dead. 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:02.240 Jesus is not one option among many. 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:05.920 He's not a helpful addition to your life. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:08.639 He's not a spiritual upgrade. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:12.000 He is the answer that you are searching for. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.959 The only one who can satisfy the thirst. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:20.399 The only one that can give you clear sight. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:25.519 The only one who can tell you to come out of that tomb finally. 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:31.439 That's why the church gives us this gospel just before Easter. 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:32.560 Why? 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:38.879 Because you cannot celebrate the resurrection if you're still living in that cave, in the tomb. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:45.759 Not theoretical, but a real challenge. 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:53.040 What is that stone in your life that's blocking you from exiting that tomb? 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:55.519 What have you sealed off? 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:57.920 What are you avoiding? 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:00.639 What are you justifying? 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.519 What have you decided, well, this is just how I am? 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:08.079 Why? 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:12.959 Because Christ is standing there right now saying, take away the stone. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:16.639 And then he's saying, come out. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:22.319 Not tomorrow, not when it's convenient, not when you have all the answers, not when you feel ready. 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:23.120 No, right now. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:24.079 Come out. 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:28.879 And maybe for some of you, that first step is going to confession. 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:34.800 The confession you've been putting off, avoiding, making excuses. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:39.839 Oh, I can just confess my sins to the big man upstairs. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:45.519 But you can't stay in that cave, in that tomb. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:50.720 Can't stay in that tomb and expect to feel alive. 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:54.079 Maybe for others it's prayer. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:56.079 Real prayer. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:02.879 A real connection with the Lord, spending the time that the Lord asks of you in communion with Him. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:08.480 Not on the surface, but actually letting in and dedicating the time to Him. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:17.199 Maybe for others it's a relationship that you've let go, a relationship that you know that you should heal and you don't. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:23.759 Maybe for you it's that habit, a bad habit that you keep falling into over and over again. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:28.000 Or maybe a pattern that is killing your soul. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:33.120 That one sin that you go to that is killing your soul. 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:34.879 And you know what it is. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:43.759 And whatever it is, this gospel's not asking you to admire Lazarus, it's asking you, will you come out of the tomb? 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:46.960 Because Christ is calling you. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:51.440 Not in theory, not in general, but by name. 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:59.200 And if you respond, if you actually let him in, your life will change. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:08.879 Not slightly, not gradually, I promise you, your life will drastically change, radically change. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:14.720 Because when Christ enters the tomb, death does not get the final word, he does. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:17.519 So don't just stand there. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:19.679 Don't delay. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:22.399 Don't pretend not to hear him. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:23.840 Come out. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:27.919 And once you're out, don't go back into the tomb. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:34.720 Because the life he offer you offers you is not survival, it's resurrection. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:37.440 Lazarus, come out. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:39.840 Hear your name. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:42.559 And today he's calling you. 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:43.600 Amen.