April 14, 2025

Today's Reading: John 12:1-23

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:1-28; Lamentations 1:1-22; Hebrews 2:1-18

“When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,” (John 12:9-10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! Amen!” is a common response that we proclaim regarding the resurrection of Christ. Usually, this response is reserved for Easter Sunday and the seasons following Easter, and when the Sunday of Transfiguration arrives, we bury the Alleluias until Easter Sunday.  

The Monday of Easter draws our attention to another resurrection—the resurrection of Lazarus. Three times in John 12:1-23 Lazarus’ resurrection is mentioned. Lazarus’ resurrection was problematic. Everyone knew Lazarus had died and had been dead for four days in the tomb. He was not just dead but dead, dead, dead, dead. He was four days dead. Now, Lazarus is alive. He is alive and eating, and speaking, and living! The local church leaders had a problem with the resurrection of Lazarus. The chief priests need to kill Lazarus, too. He needed to die again.  

Our world around us does not want the resurrection. In sin, the world pursues the desires of the flesh. Philosophies advocate that we have one life and only one life, so we had better get out of it all we can before we die. The world teaches us to pursue the desires of the flesh. The world teaches you to serve yourself. The world teaches you that you are your own god. The Old Adam in us relishes those temptations and wages war with the New Man in Christ daily.

You, too, have already died and will die. The old Adam is drowned daily in the waters of Baptism, and you will breathe your last breath of air at some point. You, too, have already been resurrected and will be resurrected from the dead. In Your Baptism, the New Man in Christ is resurrected. When Christ returns in all of His glory, you will be resurrected from the dead just as Christ came out of the tomb. We live in that tension of being dead and resurrected each day. On the Last Day, we know that just as Lazarus was called from the tomb, we, too, will rise from the dead. We will rise from the dead like Lazarus because Christ conquered death in His resurrection.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, grant that in the midst of our failures and weaknesses we may be restored through the passion and intercession of Your only-begotten Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for Monday of Holy Week)

-Rev. Timothy Davis, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, GA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

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