Fifth Sunday in Lent

In this season of Lent, each of the encounters with Jesus that we have talked about have revealed something about his character, his nature, and his mission. Jesus did not come into the world to judge; to the contrary, he loves the world and came to draw us closer to the Father. This week we come to the fifth Sunday in Lent, where we will be looking at the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. In our passage, Jesus shows us who he is most clearly by demonstrating that he is the resurrection, he is life.

These stories also remind us of our mortality. They remind us of our sin. Is there hope beyond suffering and death? As we seek deeper intimacy with God in this Lenten season, Jesus shows us through these stories that he came to call us out of death and to bring us life.

As we behold the face of God in the face of Christ, we are transformed into his image. This is what it means to be fully human—to become like Jesus, the truly human one, and to grow more and more in the freedom of the children of God.