Sermon -- 3rd Sunday of End Times: Saints Triumphant (November 14, 2021)

JOHN 5:25-29

JESUS’ VOICE BRINGS THE DEAD TO LIFE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Bible teaches the realities of heaven and hell throughout the Scriptures.  Both places, though, are difficult to comprehend.  The blessings of the heavenly kingdom include the absence of every problem and every pain.  In the heavenly kingdom, everything is restored to purity and perfection.  It will be that way without interruption and without end.  Its goodness will be far beyond anything we can understand.

     On the other hand, hell is just as incomprehensible.  The Bible says hell is an unquenchable fire.  It is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Gnashing of teeth refers to the anguish of people there.  Weeping is the regret of despising God and his word.  It is a place without mercy and without hope.  It will be that way without interruption and without end.  Even the horrors of war, famine, or plague do not measure up to that.  In fact, it is so horrible that even some Christians have rejected that it is real.  I think you would agree that it is horrible, but to reject the reality of hell is to reject the words of Jesus and many other parts of the Bible.

     I suppose one of the reasons people think that hell is such a terrible judgment is because people do not recognize the severity of the sinful condition.  We might have the idea that people mind their own business, not really hurting anybody, and then Jesus will come and banish people to hell for no good reason.  Now, if that were true, then the Lord would be a monster.  But it is not true.  No one is neutral.  Everyone comes into this world a sinner—both unable and unwilling to follow God’s word.

     The Psalms teach us to confess, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).  We are corrupt from the very beginning.  No one had to teach us how to be selfish, cruel, or angry.  While we may be minding our own business, it is opposed to God and his business.  St. Paul declares, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot” (Romans 8:7).  That is why St. Paul also says, “You were dead in the trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).  If you are dead in your sins, then you cannot fix your sinful condition.  You can’t even begin to do it, because dead people don’t get better.

     While it is true that God will send people to hell, he is not a monster who delights in doing it.  This is what the Lord says: “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God” (Ezekiel 18:32).  For this reason, God sent a Savior to rescue us from our sinful condition and from being destined for damnation.  And so Jesus came for sinners, to bring the dead to life.  He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live” (John 5:25). 

     Jesus’ voice brings the dead to life.  This is the first resurrection.  Jesus comes to people who are dead in their sins and enlivens them.  He enlightens you to see that God’s word is true, even when it convicts you.  He renews your heart so that you have a love for God’s word.  He transforms your mind so that you are eager to live and to act as God’s word directs you.  He shows you that you do not need to flee from God in terror.  Rather, you need to flee to God; for he alone provides hope, mercy, and peace for sinners. 

     Jesus’ voice brings the dead to life.  When the word of the Lord goes out to sinners, it produces what it says.  Consider the times Jesus raised people from the dead.  The daughter of Jairus had just died.  Jesus took her by the hand and said, “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:41).  Jesus’ voice brought the dead girl to life.  When the young man from Nain was on his way to the tomb, Jesus spoke, “Young man, I say to you, arise” (Luke 7:14).  Jesus’ voice brought the dead man to life.  When Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days, Jesus summoned him, “Lazarus, come out” (John 11:43).  Jesus’ words produced what he had commanded.  Jesus’ voice brings the dead to life.

     So it is with you in your sinful condition.  Jesus preached, “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).  The voice which called people to repent changed their hearts.  The voice which called people to faith planted that faith into their hearts.  Whether Jesus says it himself or a believer repeats Jesus’ words, Jesus’ voice brings the dead to life.  For, it is through that word that the saving work of Jesus is applied to people.  It is the word of the Lord which delivers the forgiveness of sins to people.  The word of the Lord is added to water which makes it a washing of regeneration—that is, the water of life by which you are born again.  The word of the Lord is added to bread and wine which deliver to God’s people the body and blood which have overcome death.  Through these, Jesus’ voice brings the dead to life and sustains the life of those who have been enlivened.  “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!  Over such the second death has no power” (Revelation 20:6).

     Jesus’ voice brings the dead to life.  It is not only true in bringing those who are dead in sin to spiritual life, it is also true in summoning the dead from their graves on the Last Day.  Jesus spoke about the resurrection of the body, in fact, the resurrection of all the bodies.  Jesus conquered death by his resurrection.  He is now the Lord over death and the grave.  So, on the Last Day, every person who has died will be called forth from his grave—whether a body buried in a cemetery, or cremated ashes which have been scattered, or a soldier whose body was annihilated by a missile.  Although people who are dead in sin can reject the Gospel which would grant new life, no one will be able to reject or resist Jesus’ voice when he calls the dead from their graves.  Every grave will be emptied; for Jesus’ voice will bring the dead to life.  And then will come the judgment.

     Jesus’ description of the judgment can be disturbing.  He said, “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29).  Now, I know which one we all want to be.  No one wants to go to hell.  But the judgment will be based on what we have done while in the body, whether good or evil.

     So, which one are you?  I am sure every one of us can think of good things we have done.  We go to church.  We stay out of jail.  We show up for work.  We say “Please” and “Thank you.”  We were nice to our mothers.  We hope that God would notice and remember.  But no one is perfect.  We have also done evil.  We had made snide remarks about people who are in our way, and we don’t care if they are struggling through a bad day.  We have snapped at our loved ones.  We have criticized people whose business we don’t know.  We have yearned for evil to come upon people who have enjoyed success.  These things have not gone unnoticed by the Lord.  The Bible reminds us, “Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord—how much more human hearts” (Proverbs 15:11)!  You can pretend you are better than you are by hiding your sinful thoughts from others, and they will probably believe you.  But you and I know the truth, and God knows it even better.

     “An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29).  So, which one is it?  Which one are you?  Good or evil? 

     Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice!  You do not have to pad your resume and invent good works to impress God with them.  You have a Savior!  Jesus’ voice brings the dead to life.  He does not give you a list of things to do to get eternal life.  He gives you words and promises.  Therefore, you can have confidence at the judgment and comfort for every day that leads up to it.  You will not be judged based on your merits or your performance.  This is what the Lord says: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  When the Lord sees you, he sees the righteousness and innocence of Jesus.  In Christ, you are not merely good, you are blameless, pure, and holy.  You are not destined for death, but have been guaranteed eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Jesus’ voice brings the dead to life.

     Therefore, we even have comfort when Jesus tells us about the judgment.  Listen to what he says: “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.  And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man” (John 5:26-27).  Jesus is the judge of all mankind.  You shall be judged by a peer—the man Jesus.  He has been given that right because he has done all that the Father gave him to do—perfect obedience, a sacrificial death for the disobedient, resurrection from death to conquer the devil and the grave.  The Son of Man has been  confirmed as the perfect man and has the right to judge all mankind.  Those who reject his word also reject his forgiveness.  They will be judged according to what they have done.  Since they have remained in their sin, the sad result will be the weeping and gnashing of teeth—incomprehensible suffering forever.

     But you, dear Christians, know that the judge of the living and the dead is on your side.  He is your friend.  He is your Savior.  What’s more, he has already told you your verdict!  He has already taken away your sins.  He has clothed you with his righteousness.  You have his word that you are heirs of eternal life.  At the Last Day, in the presence of his Father, the angels, and all people who have ever lived, the voice of Jesus will publicly declare, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).  Jesus’ voice brings the dead to life—life as a child of God now, and a life of everlasting glory to come.  And we shall all receive the glories of the heavenly kingdom—incomprehensible goodness and peace forever.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.