Do you believe in miracles? Honestly? Do you ever see things happen, that all logic and reason and empirical evidence say could not possibly happen? I do.
I remember when I was in seminary, in my early 20’s. I had a friend who was a medical student. He was really smart, and used to question me about religion. You know, some really smart people think that belief in God, and the decision to suspend logic and trust in miracles. . . well they think that is all just for simple minded folks. My friend and I had some good conversations, because he could tell I was not simple minded. I’m a fairly smart cookie. I’m not sure, but I think he wanted to write off religion as a bunch of nonsense, but when he talked to me, he could tell that I was not someone who would be prone to nonsense. And so I think he had to question whether there might really BE something to this God thing and to God’s miracles.
Well, I believe in miracles. And here is why. I believe in the power of God to miraculously transform our broken lives into lives of joy. It’s just that simple. And I believe we all have a choice. We can trust in the miraculous transformative power of God, or we can reject it.
I choose to trust God. Because I can’t live any other way. And I can’t see any other better way to live. This story about Lazarus is a simple story about whether or not we are willing to believe in Jesus’ power to work miracles even in our broken lives. Will we put our trust in Jesus?
You see, there were all these people in this story:
- Lazarus who had died
- His sisters Mary and Martha
- The Jews who were their friends who came to mourn with them.
- Jesus and his disciples.
Everyone in the story had a chance to decide whether or not they would put their trust in Jesus. Jesus was good friends with Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus. So when the disciples got word that Lazarus was sick unto death, they thought Jesus would rush to his side and DO SOMETHING. They were perplexed when Jesus kinds of hung around, stalling, in the town when they were, and waited two days before going to Lazarus’ home. But here is what Jesus said to his disciples: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let's go to him."
Jesus told them exactly why he had waited: so they could see God’s power. And have even more reason to trust in God. Jesus was not in a hurry. All these people were rushing around with Mary and Martha, wailing, grieving and running around like chickens with their heads cut off. In this midst of this, Jesus is the epitome of calm, because he trusts in God.
Jesus walks in and he says: “Take away the stone [from the tomb of Lazarus].”
Are you kidding me? They tell Jesus that Lazarus has been dead for 4 days now. They didn’t have our modern embalming techniques. They said: “Jesus, the body will smell really bad!” Jesus says again: “Take away the stone.” And once they move the stone Jesus says: “Lazarus, come out.” Come out of your tomb. Walk away from death and walk toward my light.
And guess what happens? A miracle! Lazarus comes walking out, all wrapped up in burial clothes and looking like a mummy – like the living dead. But Lazarus is alive! It’s a miracle.
And then we read something crucial in this story: “48That was a turnaround for many of the Jews who were with Mary. They saw what Jesus did, and believed in him.” Because of this miracle, a turnaround happened for many more people. Jesus used Lazarus, and Jesus’ ability to heal him and bring him back to life – as a way to reach more people.
So, I ask this question: Have you seen any miracles lately? Have you experienced something that has transformed your life? And if so, are you telling your friends about it, so they can be transformed too?
I see miracles everyday in this Village community. I have the privilege of knowing your stories. Sadly, some of the best ones are confidential and so I can’t tell them in my sermons.
But I can tell you this one. You all know Shelly. She volunteers her time as our Office Manager. I pray for the day when we can pay her a little something because what she does goes way beyond what most unpaid servants do in a church. Shelly’s story is a miracle of life overcoming death. You see, Shelly is a mother who has had three children in her life. You all know her daughter Abbie who comes here to The Village. But Shelly had two other sons. Her youngest,died as an infant from SIDS. For a mother to get up every morning and keep going, after the death of a child is a miracle in itself. But Shelly had a second son, TJ, who was bi-polar, and committed suicide.
Now in case you don’t know it, suicide is contagious. It is not uncommon to see in a family, when one person commits suicide, someone else does it. Because it is seen as a real way out of the pain of this world. Shelly is a prime candidate for giving up on life. You see, in addition to the grief of the loss of TWO sons, Shelly has her own health problems. She lives with chronic pain – so much pain that many days she cannot do her work as a medical transcriptionist. She is going through that long horrible process now, of trying to get Social Security disability, because she can’t work full-time like most of the rest of us. She wants to work, but the pain is too great most days for her to work more than about 3 hours.
Now let me ask you this, how many of you have been touched in your life, by Shelly’s kindness and compassion? I know that some of you, when you are facing huge obstacles in your own life, call Shelly for encouragement. And she is happy for you to do that.
She also volunteers with her friend Jody, another family survivor touched by suicide, in planning a Suicide Prevention Walk here in Toledo every year. Shelly has turned her tragedies, into opportunities to bless others. Jesus might say of Shelly, like he said of Lazarus: “I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing.”
You see, Shelly could give up on life. She could be one of those bitter, angry people who sit at home, in pain, cursing God. She has every right. But Shelly is one of our miracles here at The Village. She knows Jesus. And when Jesus says to her, “Come out, come out of your tomb,” Shelly comes to Jesus. She gets out of bed every day, even when she does not feel good, carrying with her that grief that is with her all the time, and she cares for you and me. She prays for us. She does all kinds of things around here behind the scenes to keep things going. (In fact someone told her recently they think she does way more than me – all I do is preach on Sundays and she makes sure we have food, and programs, and that the money gets counted and deposited so we can keep this place open.)
Shelly is a miracle. Now Shelly will be say what she does is not so much. And that’s because she knows that her power comes not from herself, but from God. She chooses to put her trust in God. I call that a miracle. She has every reason to deny God’s existence, or to be really angry at God. But instead, she loves God and puts her trust in God.
Shelly is just one story of someone here who has lived through pain, but did not choose to stay in that tomb of misery.
There are other stories. People here have overcome addiction to alcohol and drugs, to gambling and smoking. People here have lived through betrayal and broken relationships, lost jobs, separation from children or parents. These are all miracles.
We need to claim these miracles! This Village Community is a miracle. Two years ago, we were just a dream of God. Now we are a community of compassion. Many of the folks here did not have a church community before The Village opened, because we are a different kind of church. We are a church for folks that don’t feel good enough to walk into most other churches. It’s not true, because God says we’re all good enough, of course. But we didn’t feel welcome, because of our brokenness. We didn’t think those other churches could meet our needs. Those other churches work for other folks, and that is good, but we needed this community. We needed a place for imperfect people, who don’t have to hide our imperfections. We can be imperfect, and God loves us anyway.
So what does this story mean for us? First, the story of Lazarus invites us to be people who look for God’s miracles. Jesus used his healing of Lazarus to invite others to trust in God. If we are not careful, we can get so caught up in the busy-ness of our lives, that we don’t have time to see God. We need to slow down, like Jesus, and pay attention to the miracles God works right here among us. And when we see those miracles, we need to give thanks to God!
Second, we can’t keep this story to ourselves. The Gospel says: 48That [miracle of Lazarus coming out of his tomb] was a turnaround for many of the Jews who were with Mary. They saw what Jesus did, and believed in him.”
Who do you know who needs a community of healing and compassion like we have here at The Village? Think about it. Who do you know, who does not have a community like this? Who do you know who is trying to make it on their own, without God, and without a church family? You may not know until you ask them. Every time I have a chance with someone new, I just say, “Do you go to church anywhere?” If they say yes they will usually tell me a bit about their church home, and I say, “Great, I’m glad you have a place like that. The Village is that for me.” And if they say no, I say, “I’m part of the coolest church in town, called The Village. I can tell you a little more about it if you are interested.”
I am so excited about the miracles that are going on at the Village, other people can hear it in my voice. Even if they are not looking for a church, most of them are struck by my passion for this community. They tell me they can see it’s a great church, and they might just have to come check it out.
You see, this is the way of Jesus. There are so many miracles and so many more people out there who need to see God’s miracles for their lives! And we have a chance to help them.
That’s why we are going to start a new service in a new part of town in the Fall. And that’s why we have special events all the time, and ask you to bring your friends and acquaintances. You can invite them, but it’s actually better if you offer to give them a ride and bring them here with you. Until everyone out there who is hurting, has a place like this to call home, and a community like this to lean on, I will keep repeating that message: We have something wonderful here, and we need to share it!
So I hope this week, you will look for God’s miracles, and give thanks to God every day for the miracles you see. And I pray that you will pay attention to the people around you, who need to experience God’s miracles in their own lives, and that you will bring them with you here to The Village.
We do follow the way Jesus, and we can change the world, when we put our trust in him.
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