How Will You React to Death?
At the very moment of our death, what happens to our body is not what happens to our soul because our body expires but our soul does not. Our soul never dies. When it departs our body at the moment of death, our soul immediately enters eternal life with Jesus in heaven. April 10, 2011.
How many emoticons can you make using the keypad of a phone? Emoticons are those little graphic representations of faces showing various expressions. Happy face. Confused look. Winking guy. If there is an emoticon for death, I don’t think I’ve ever used it. Or even thought of using it. But certainly a lot of emotions swirl all around death. Given death’s complexity of circumstances, the diversity of human histories, and possible fears, there is no end to the different types of reaction people might experience regarding the topic of death. Even the actual death of a loved one. Even our own death – not death as a future appointment on our calendar but our reaction, in the moment, to actually dying. How Will You React to Death?
The mortality rate has remained a constant100% ever since sin entered our world. Death is real. It effects real people. It is a real experience. It compels real, emotional reactions. In John 11 the Bible reports a death scene, a variety of reactions, and a couple surprises that redefine our Christian reaction to death by the one who is the Resurrection and the Life.
At the beginning of the chapter Lazarus is deathly sick. He and his sisters, Mary and Martha, are close followers of Jesus so the sisters send word to Jesus to come and heal his friend like he’s healed random people in the crowds. Jesus doesn’t come. His disciples, understanding the real possibility of Lazarus’ pending death, express fear and confusion. Why is Jesus ignoring a dear friend asking for his help? Their fears come true when Lazarus dies, and only then does Jesus go to visit. This adds to their confusion. Have you ever reacted similarly, questioning God’s timing when someone you cared about died?
“On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.”Martha was not happy. She didn’t even let Jesus make it to the front door before making a B-line to him and bombarding him with her frustration, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Death is a cruel thief. It victimizes and violates us. That can make us angry, sometimes even angry at God because we know he could prevent death if he really wanted.
Soon after this Mary found Jesus, but she approaches him a bit more humbly, falling at his feet and saying the same words as her sister, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Mary is hurting. Her tears of sorrow moisten her face with sobs of grief. Death hurts. The pain can be sharp, it can be deep, it can be quick, it can endure far too long like an unwelcome visitor unwilling to leave. There is pain. And we know that too well.
Let me be clear about something here. Christians aren’t exempt from the raw experience of human emotion. We are people, after all. Don’t be fooled by thinking that Christians are supposed to be above the power of emotions, that Christians can tune our faith into our Bible knowledge and consequently tune out our feelings, that Christians who believe in the objective dogmas of the Scriptures shouldn’t be effected by the subjective sensitivities associated with being human. The disciples were afraid. Martha was upset. Mary hurt. All because of death. But what’s important is what they didn’t do with their emotional reactions. They didn’t throw up their arms in exasperation, sit hopelessly in a puddle of tears, or shake their fists at God and walk away. Anyone who reacts to confusion, anger, or grief about death by turning away from God turns away from our only hope of real life. Instead, the disciples, Martha, and Mary took their human reactions to death and brought them to Jesus with trembling hands, “Here, Jesus, what am I supposed to do with this? I can’t handle this right now, can you help?” It’s okay for Christians to be confused about death, to be angry about death, to grieve, to be depressed – as long as we let God into the hurt and pain to do his mysterious, saving work.
I say mysterious because sometimes the saving work of God can seem surprisingly strange. “Where have you laid him?” Jesus asked about Lazarus. “Come and see, Lord.” He did, and, “Jesus wept.” Knowing full well he’d be standing death down, sensing the sight and sound of the mourners, and feeling the same raw emotions as others present … it all stirred Jesus’ blood, wrenched his gut, and broke him down to weep with his friends and followers. Surprise. God grieves too. When you hurt, the Son of God, human like you, is there to feel the pain. That’s how he reacts, but there is more. More than a mourner who offers kind condolences, the Son of God reacts to death as one who is both merciful and mighty. “Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’” Death cannot have this kind of power. It’s not right that death should strut around like an unintimidated playground bully. Death will not throttle the hope from any followers of Jesus and will not convince us that it can separate us from his love. With a gritty, determined love Jesus conquers death for Lazarus and also for us with these words, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Our Savior is not only capable – with the power over death. He is willing to stand it down for us – with a mercy that doesn’t count our sins against us. You and I and our loved ones who have died in faith and all believers who die will someday also rise like Lazarus when Jesus returns to end this world. Before that, at the very moment of our death, what happens to our body is not what happens to our soul because our body expires but our soul does not. Our soul never dies. When it departs our body at the moment of death, our soul immediately enters eternal life with Jesus in heaven.
Here is our lesson from John 11. Like the disciples, Martha, and Mary let your deepest emotions about death be what they are, and give them to Jesus. Give him your anger, for he is the Way to God who completely satisfied once and for all God’s anger because of your sins. Give him your confusion, for he is the Truth who perfectly knows and understands. Give him your grief and guilt, for he is the Resurrection and the Life, and in him death is destroyed and done.
How did Lazarus react to death? Jesus called this dead man out of the grave – was he a little groggy and disoriented? We’re only told this: that he lived. He lived! And later as Jesus made his way to the cross we’re also told that “Lazarus … was with him” (John 12:2). How Will You React to Death? Believe in Jesus now. Be with Jesus now. And you live. Forever + JAmen.
Preached at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI (www.gracedowntown.org) on April 10, 2011
Related Sermons
A Death Forgotten
People often pledge that they will never forget about the death of a loved one as a way to honor that person. But God vows to forget the death we deserve because of Jesus' payment for our sins. Jeremiah 31:34 confirms that ours is "A Death Forgotten." March 25, 2012. Read on
Remember Me, O Lord
Genesis 28:10-17 illustrates just exactly what remembering meant in the life of a man named Jacob and brings home some wonderfully comforting truths for our Lenten walk with God and for our entire life. We join with Jacob in the prayer, Remember Me, O Lord. March 4, 2012. Read on
Samson Got Ahold of the Pillars of Life and Death
At first glance, Samson hardly seems like a hero of faith for us to emulate. But Judges 16:21-31 shows us that at the end of his life, "Samson Got Ahold of the Pillars of Life and Death," and we can follow his example in our own lives. September 25, 2011 Read on