Sermons

March 9, 2008

“Weeping Brings Compassion”

Rev. Cerna Castro Rand

John 11:1-45

“Jesus wept” is the shortest verse in the Bible (verse 35). When Jesus saw that his special friend Lazarus had died, he cried. Jesus became very emotional like any person who experiences the death of a very good friend. Even our Lord was not exempt from experiencing the pain and sadness of death in his own life. Jesus’ tears were expressions of his sadness and deep love for a friend. His weeping compelled him to act compassionately. Jesus’ presence provided comfort to those grieving. Jesus saw and felt Martha and Mary’s grief, and his heart was moved with so much compassion. His love for Lazarus and his family was deep and true. Jesus was deeply touched by their sadness, and his tears brought so much love and compassion that it made him bring Lazarus back to life. Jesus commanded Lazarus’s dead body to come out from the tomb. Lazarus’s dead body stood up and walked again (verses 43-44). That must have been a very spooky event. But it did not scare those present with Jesus.

Through God’s power Jesus raised Lazarus to life. Lazarus was healed from his illness. He was restored into wholeness and given a new life. Those who witnessed the miraculous raising of Lazarus believed in God’s power and in Jesus Christ. “Many of the Jews who came with Mary believed in Jesus” (verse 45). Jesus took the opportunity to witness and show God’s power working in their midst. God’s power is boundless. God can do anything he wants to do through Jesus Christ. God can act any time and anywhere. There is no limit in what God can do. In today’s gospel we have seen that God’s goodness, love, mercy, and compassion is for everyone including the dead. From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry all he did was to bring life to the dying and give hope to the hopeless and the powerless. This story of raising Lazarus is evidence of God’s power working in the midst of a hopeless situation.

Martha and Mary believed in the power and healing mercy of God. They said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (verses 21 and 32). They believed that if Jesus had been present before their brother died, his death could have been prevented. What is remarkable about Martha and Mary was that they called on their friend, Jesus, when they needed help. They knew where to go for help. When we are confronted with some kind of situation in life we can call on God. Martha and Mary needed help and they sent their message to Jesus. Sometimes our friends might not be reachable or readily available when we needed help. Sometimes our friends might fail us. But our special friend, Jesus, is always available for us. In fact he is waiting for us to call on him. If you need a friend to save you, just call on Jesus and he’ll answer you. Jesus is our hope in times of desperation. We can trust the Lord to act on our behalf. God comforts us in times of sorrow. He provides us life and healing when we need it the most. He had proven that by bringing Lazarus to life. What was impossible with humans was possible with God. Sometimes we humans, have some doubts. Even Martha was not 100 percent sure that it was possible to bring Lazarus to life. She said, “Lord, my brother had been dead four days” (verse 39). Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God” (verse 40)? Those who saw Lazarus came out from the tomb believed in Jesus and followed him (verses 44-45). The good news spread quickly and attracted more people to follow Jesus. The religious leaders became furious and envious that Jesus performed a miracle and was drawing more people. Jesus’ acts of kindness, love and compassion towards others made his enemies angry and eventually put him to death. The religious leaders might have the power to punish the Lord for the good things he did for others. But God will have the power to show his glory by raising Jesus to life after the third day. Though all of us may die from this physical life, God promised us eternal life. In Christ there is resurrection! I believe resurrection is something to be experienced here on earth not only when someone departs from this earthly life. Resurrection is here now and it is to come.

Jesus had the power to choose whether or not to raise Lazarus to life and to comfort the grieving. Jesus compassionately chose to heal Lazarus and help the grieving. Jesus’ tears compelled him to act with compassion. Jesus always finds a way to show examples of loving and compassionate ministry with others. Here at the Chicago Temple we are called to commit ourselves to God’s loving and compassionate ministry in the world. We continue to reach out to people in their needs. An example of this is our Bereavement Ministry being lead by Azucena Munoz Tressler and I am the clergy enabler for the program. The Bereavement Ministry is designed to reach out to those who are experiencing grief and losses in life. We provide a support group that meets on Monday nights, twice a month. The Bereavement Ministry gives out a package of Kleenex to those who attend the session with this message on it, “These can be used for cold or flu, but if you ever need someone to shed a tear with, we are here to help.” We want you to “Come and see…” (John 1:45). We are here to help. When you go out from the sanctuary following the service there are packages of Kleenex available for you while supplies last.

Jesus came to help Lazarus because he cared for him. Today Jesus is here among us because he cares for us. He is not just sitting somewhere in the clouds but he is here on earth weeping with us in our sufferings. Every day God weeps for the sins of the world. He weeps for those who suffer. Every day there are many people who are weeping; asking for our loving and compassionate God for help. The war in Iraq continues. Just this week, there were two bombing attacks that occurred in Baghdad and at a seminary in Jerusalem that killed 59 people and injured 120 others. On Friday, one student was killed and one beaten severely near Crane High school on the city’s West Side.

The poverty and homelessness in the world is escalating. The economy is bad. There is a housing crisis. Jobs cut. Parents are worried about their children’s safety in their school. Many people are without healthcare. The baby boomers are concerned about Social Security. Workers are crying for justice in their workplace. There is global warming. Victims of wars are longing for security. Parents are struggling to find childcare for their children. Children are dying of malnutrition and diseases. Our Creator is weeping for all these situations in the world. Our merciful God continues to touch our needy world with compassion. Through many people, God continues to provide healing and restoration for this broken world. The world needs loving and compassionate hearts to bring God’s healing and mercy to the sick, hungry, and sorrowing. Will you weep with God and be more compassionate to any of these people who are weeping for help in our community, nation, and in the world?

On Tuesday night I was having trouble falling asleep. I decided to watch television and the Oprah Winfrey Show was on. Drew Barrymore, a Hollywood actress, was on the show. I don’t watch Oprah regularly but on that night it caught my attention because I happen to like Drew Barrymore. She’s smart, funny, beautiful and enjoyable to watch. She talked about her experience going to Africa and working with the school-feeding program in Kenya. Barrymore reported that, “Children in Kenya go to school with empty stomachs.” She helped feed the children. She had an opportunity to know them and their families. Her experience working with children in Kenya changed her life. After two years of working in Kenya Barrymore made a commitment to support the children to have a better future. She is now an ambassador for United Nations. I learned on that day that; “There are 59 million children all over the world that goes to school hungry every day.” Barrymore told the viewers that, “The children have a better capacity to learn when they are fed properly.” During the show Barrymore donated $1 million to “World Food Programme.” Barrymore challenged the viewers to make any donation to “World Food Programme” to save the children in the world from hunger and give them a better future so they can reach their potential.

I was very interested about Barrymore’s report because I myself was in Johannesburg, South Africa, last year and I had an opportunity to visit the town of Soweto, which was outside of Johannesburg to see an orphanage. I met children in the orphanage that we visited and I saw the needs. It is not right for any child anywhere to suffer and to go to school with an empty stomach. God is weeping for those children who are deprived of their basic needs. Barrymore’s journey and work in Africa touched her heart and she chose to respond with compassion. What they need in Africa according to Barrymore is “Action not talking.”

We don’t have to go to a far away land in order to see the needs. When you leave the church after the service you might see a homeless person begging for food in the cold streets of Chicago. Today we are challenged to respond with compassion to the needs around us. Jesus summons us to be more compassionate with others. We have a choice to respond to Jesus’ call to show compassion for the needs that confronts our world today. The Bible tells us to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Will you be willing to weep with those who are struggling and suffering in life? Will you open your hearts and minds to see the needs of others? Will you turn your weeping into acts of compassion so others will experience a new life in Christ? Amen.

Rev. Cerna Castro Rand
First UMC Chicago Temple
March 9, 2008