“Shattered Paradigms” Sunday, 03 April 2022 10:00 a.m.
We are continuing our series leading up to the Easter season entitled: “Resurrection: Power Over Death.” Last week we talked about Jesus; what He said about sin, death and the grave. As Judge of the earth, Jesus has made some important judgments with regards to sin, death and the grave. This week, we want to talk about “death”; what are our humanistic, preconceived notions or paradigms regarding death and how did Jesus shatter those concepts. What Jesus had to say about death, at the raising of his friend Lazarus, blows away all of our notions and ideas with regards to death.
As humans, we do everything possible to prevent death and so we should. If we knew that someone was in danger of death, we would do everything possible to make sure that it was prevented. But when Jesus heard that His friend was sick, he waited for a time before going to see him.
John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.
When we read this, we are somewhat surprised, maybe even appalled at what we may see as Jesus' insensitivity. Stay two more days and wait around while your best friend is on his deathbed? That doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. But Jesus was establishing a new paradigm with regards to death; the paradigm of a life lived in accordance with His plan and purpose.
For most of us, we acknowledge that death rests in the hands of the medically qualified, but Jesus establishes a new paradigm regarding death; that its not over till He says it is.
John 11:25 Jesus said to her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life.
For Mary and Martha, all was said and done. The professionals of the day had come in and assessed; they had pronounced Lazarus dead, he was given a burial, and he was in the grave… for four days.
But Jesus, as He has done before, overrules the medical profession, science, and all of the logic of mankind. And even though Lazarus was not alive, not breathing, not functioning in his bodily organs, not living…. Jesus spoke to him as though he was, he called those things that are not as though they were. He called him by name: Lazarus, come forth!
And with those words, the soul/spirit of Lazarus which was already in Paradise, moved and made its way towards earth. It once again entered into the decomposing body of Lazarus. The organs started to function, the heart started to pump, the lungs started to fill with oxygen and probably with a gasp, Lazarus sat up wrapped like a mummy in those cloths. Lazarus walked out of that grave.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “Shattered Paradigms.”
Kevin
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