Unbind Them and Let Them Go
This is the sermon I preached at St. Timothy Lutheran Church for All Saints' Sunday, 11/7/21. The text was John 11:32-44 . Today we remember the faithful who have died in the last year. We also think back to the saints of old in scripture and others whom the church has honored throughout history. In today’s gospel, we have Mary and Martha and Lazarus—all recognized as saints by various churches. And of course, there are the disciples, but there is also the crowd and best of all, our Lord Jesus, who shortly after this miracle would himself experience death. Jesus and his disciples are in Bethany and Jesus is met by Lazarus’ sister, Mary, but earlier in chapter 11, Jesus learns of Lazarus’ illness, but purposely waits to go see Mary and Martha. He could have gone there as soon as he heard, but he waited so that they people would believe that the Father had sent him. The first chapter of John’s gospel tells us, “… in him was life, and the life was the light of all people”