Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, June 1

In the Gospel of John there are seven “I Am” statements made by Jesus.  "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35, 48, 51); "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12); "I am the door of the sheep"(John 10:7,9); "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11, 14); "I am the resurrection, and the life" (John 11:25); "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). "I am the true vine" (John 15:1, 5).  This Sunday we will join Jesus, Martha, Mary and a host of others outside the tomb of Lazarus and hear what is considered by many the greatest of Jesus’ “I AM” statements.

At the beginning of his gospel John states, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn. 1: 14)  Here at Lazarus’ tomb this glory is powerfully revealed.  Yet before that glory is revealed by Christ, it is declared by him.  Jesus does not merely say He will bring about the resurrection or that He will cause it (although he does both), but He says, “I AM the resurrection and the life”. 

As you prepare for worship consider this question: How can your worship experience be impacted by what you see and hear from Jesus in this week’s passage (John 11: 17-37)? 

In his book about the cross and resurrection of Jesus entitled Scandalous, D.A. Carson points out that in the midst of Mary and Martha’s sadness and grief, Jesus preaches “a sermon on himself”.  Carson writes, “Almost scandalously, he turns attention to himself.  Imagine, in the midst of her mourning and loss, when she is in the bog of despair, Jesus preaches a sermon about himself.  He is not asking if she believes that he is about to raise her brother from the dead immediately, but if her faith in that resurrection at the end can extend to deep trust in Jesus himself as the one who grants eternal life now and will resurrect the dead on the last day.  In short, he asks her if she can trust him as the resurrection and the life.  He diverts attention way from her grief to his own transcendent claims.  Jesus butts up against devastating loss and offers comfort – by diverting attention to himself.”  (p. 128-129)

By inviting us come to Him in worship, God is giving us what we most need – an opportunity to gaze on his glory in the face of Christ Jesus.  Whatever your life has been like this week, whether it has been filled with joy or grief, whether it has been ordinary and mundane or extraordinary, you and I need the reality of God himself.  We need “God as he has spectacularly and definitively disclosed himself to us in the person of his Son.  He will require that of us that we focus our attention on him, both for this life and the one to come.” (Carson, p. 130)

Only God can give us the vision and focus we need to see his glory as he has revealed it in Christ.  Pray that he will give us that focus. 

Pray for me as I finish preparation for this week’s sermon.  Pray for those who will be leading worship. 

Read through John 11, and as you do pray asking the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and heart to the truths of God revealed in this passage.  This revelation of Jesus requires the same faith response from us that it required of Martha:  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”  (John 11:25-26)

If we do believe this it will change the way we worship.    This familiar hymn will be a part of our worship.  Let’s make it a part of prayer this week as we prepare for worship.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?  


No light in the darkness you see?


There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
 

and life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus; 

Look full in His wonderful face,


And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,


in the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting,


He passed and we follow Him there;


Over us sin no more has dominion—


For more than conquerors we are!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus; 

Look full in His wonderful face,


And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

in the light of His glory and grace.

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;


Believe Him, and all will be well:


Then go to a world that is dying,


His perfect salvation to tell!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus; 

Look full in His wonderful face,


And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,


in the light of His glory and grace.