Sermon Recap+ March 15, 2026

In our daily interactions, we often encounter different ways people express themselves and handle difficult situations. Just as people have varying cultural backgrounds and personalities that shape how they greet each other or respond to competition, we also see different reactions to grief and loss in our faith journey.

Watch this Sermon by Rev. Mario Bolivar - Click Here

How Do People React Differently to Grief?

The story of Lazarus reveals how even siblings can experience and express grief in completely different ways. When Jesus finally arrived after Lazarus had died, we see Martha rushing out to meet him, while Mary stayed home. Both sisters said the exact same words to Jesus: "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." Yet their approaches were entirely different.

Martha was vocal and direct, immediately going to where Jesus was approaching. Mary remained at home, processing her grief more privately. The people who came to offer condolences also reacted differently - some saw Jesus weep and recognized his love for Lazarus, while others questioned why he didn't prevent the death if he had the power to heal.

What Does It Mean When We Know the Right Words But Struggle to Believe?

Martha demonstrates something many of us experience in our faith journey. She knew all the correct theological responses. When Jesus told her that Lazarus would rise again, she immediately replied with the proper answer: "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."

But Jesus wasn't talking about some distant future resurrection. He was speaking about immediate, present power: "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live."

The Difference Between Knowing and Believing

Here's where we see the gap between head knowledge and heart belief. After Martha declared Jesus to be the Messiah and Son of God, she went to get Mary and said, "The teacher is here." Not "the Messiah" or "the Son of God" - just "the teacher."

This reveals that even when we can recite the right answers, we might still be holding Jesus at arm's length, seeing him as an instructor rather than as the one who has power over life and death.

Why Didn't Jesus Rush to Save Lazarus?

Many people struggle with this question: If Jesus had the power to heal, why didn't he hurry to save his friend? The answer lies in Jesus' own words: "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

Jesus delayed his response intentionally - not out of lack of care, but so that God's glory would be displayed more fully. He wanted the crowd to see that he had power over death itself, not just sickness.

The Danger of Expecting God to Meet Our Expectations

The same people who witnessed Lazarus being raised from the dead, who shouted "Hosanna" when Jesus entered Jerusalem, were the ones who later cried "Crucify him!" They expected Jesus to overthrow Rome and establish an earthly kingdom. When he didn't meet their expectations, they turned against him.

This teaches us that miracles alone don't create lasting faith. People can witness incredible displays of God's power and still reject him when he doesn't act according to their plans.

What Can We Offer When We Don't Have the Power to Fix Everything?

Most of us wish we had the power to heal the people we love and fix their problems. But we don't have that ability, unless God will it for us, for God's glory. What we can offer is what Jesus offered in that moment - our presence, our time, and our love.

The more we spend time with people, the more we love them. And the more we love them, the more we want to have the power to heal their pain. But our calling isn't to be miracle workers - it's to be present with one another.

How Should We Love One Another?

Jesus gave us a new commandment: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." The point of our faith isn't perfect theology, though understanding matters. The point is to love one another. Before we worry about attracting more people to our churches, we should focus on truly knowing and loving the people who are already there.

What Does It Mean to "Lay Down Your Life"?

When Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends," we often think this only means dying for someone. But "laying down" has many meanings - it can mean laying down your schedule, opening your home, sharing your table, or giving of your resources.

Love isn't just a feeling or abstract concept. Love is seen in grief and celebrations, in hellos and goodbyes. Love doesn't avoid sorrow but thrives despite it.

Why Is Communion About Community?

The power of communion isn't in the minister's words or the ritual itself - it's in doing it together. Jesus gave us this gift because his time with us wasn't enough. Every time we break bread together, we announce two essential truths: there is grace for us, and Jesus will return.

The holiness of communion is found in the community, in welcoming each other to break bread together. This is how we continue to experience Jesus among friends.

Life Application

This week, focus on truly knowing the people already in your life rather than seeking to expand your circle. Challenge yourself to learn the name of someone you see regularly but don't really know. Ask about their story, their struggles, their joys.

Consider how you can "lay down your life" for others - not through dramatic gestures, but through simple acts of presence. Open your schedule for someone who needs to talk. Share a meal. Offer your time without expecting anything in return.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I know the names and stories of the people I see regularly in my faith community?

• When someone is grieving, do I offer my presence or just my advice?

• Am I trying to fix people's problems, or am I simply loving them where they are?

• How can I lay down my life for others this week in practical, everyday ways?

Remember that love is not just butterflies and good feelings - it's choosing to be present with others through both celebrations and sorrows, knowing that this is how we truly follow Jesus among friends.