Sermon from St Andrews Church, Slip End, UK. This sermon given our reader Julie Taylor on The third Sunday of Lent on the 26/3/23 entitled ‘Jesus Raises Lazarus’
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Sermon starts at 3:04
John 11 v 1-45Jesus had been informed that one of his most beloved friends, Lazarus, was gravely ill. But he insisted that this illness would not lead to death, but would be used by God as a witness to the Son of God.
But word came to Jesus that Lazarus had died and all were saddened by the news. Jesus insisted that this was the time to go to the home of Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus.
Before Jesus arrived, Martha got word that he was on his way, and she hurried out to meet him.
Martha said “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.”
Jesus said *Your brother will rise again.”
“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”
And having said this, Martha returned home to tell Mary that she had spoken with Jesus, who was on his way to see them. Mary got up quickly and ran out of the house to see Jesus.
Mary said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Jesus asked, “Where have you laid him?”
She said “Lord, come and see.”
They led Jesus to the tomb in which Lazarus had been laid. All those who followed Mary and Jesus were amazed and moved by his love for his friend Lazarus.
When they arrived at the cave, Jesus gave them instruction: “Take away the stone.”
Martha said: “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.”
Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
And so they rolled the stone away.
Jesus said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me. Lazarus, come out!”
And Lazarus came out, his hands and feet bound with the strips of cloth and his face wrapped in a cloth.
Jesus said “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Many of the people who had come with Mary and Martha to the tomb had seen what had happened and they believed in Jesus.