And I hope that once this is over, whenever that will be, we might have a new appreciation and curiosity for the ways that appropriate and healthy touch can make the love of God known to us and to our community.
So friends, resurrection is coming. But not yet. For now, we’re still stuck in the tomb with Lazarus. We’re holed up in our homes and cancelling all public gatherings. And that has disrupted every aspect of our lives. So, amid the grief, know this: that all of the sacrifices we’re making are for a higher purpose - to protect those around us who are most vulnerable. And if that’s not the work of the Gospel, I don’t know what is.
So today, I’m curious. What would today’s passage have looked like if the community around this man had responded with curiosity and celebration instead of fear and anger?
This wilderness can at first look like a place of isolation but, as today’s story teaches us, if we just practice a little intentionality and curiosity, this wilderness can and will be a place of unexpected connection!
Faith is about more than simple answers. In fact, faith is more about the right questions than the right answers.
So, let’s remove the stigma, shall we? Doubt is not something to be ashamed of, it’s something to learn from. The largest moments of learning in my life have been during times of my deepest doubt. Without doubt, I believe there can be no true faith. Faith is about living with doubt, not pretending it doesn’t exist.
You see, I don’t think y’all came here today to satisfy some nostalgic obligation. I think you came here today because you’re looking for a little life amid the chaos, amid the grief, amid the cruelty of this world. So take a little life home with you today. Take it home and share the life that is found in this five-word sermon.