Fifth Sunday in Lent
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; in His word is my hope.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
Listen to David speak to this gospel
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Fifth Sunday in Lent, 22nd Mar 2026
Welcome sisters and brothers and peace be with you. MAY the words on my lips and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. <Amen>
A few years ago, a family sat in a hospital waiting room praying desperately for a miracle. They had asked everyone to pray. They had called me. They had anointed with oil. They believed.
But the doctor eventually came out and said the words no one wants to hear: “We did everything we could.”
Later, one of them said through tears, “We prayed. We trusted. Where was God?”
Have you ever felt that?
You prayed — and nothing changed.
You believed — and things got worse.
You asked Jesus to come — and He seemed late.
That is exactly where we meet Martha and Mary in John 11:1-45 and this teaches us five precious lessons. <PAUSE>
Precious Lesson #1 : The Love That Delays
Lazarus is sick. The sisters send word to Jesus: “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
Notice what they don’t say - - - they don’t demand, they don’t give lengthy explanations. They simply trust that love will move Him.
And John tells us something astonishing:
“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.”
He loved them … so He stayed where He was? That makes no sense to us at all! Love moves quickly. Love rushes. Love fixes.
But divine love is not always hurried love.
Sometimes Jesus delays not because He does not care — but because He intends something far greater. <PAUSE>
By the time Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been in the tomb four days. Four days. That meant all hope was gone. This was not a coma. Not a mistake. Not reversible.
Dead! Martha meets Jesus with words that many of us would have whispered, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Translation - “Jesus, You could have stopped this.”
Maybe you’ve prayed that prayer.
“Lord, if You had been here…”
“If You had intervened…”
“If You had healed…”
“If You had prevented…”
and here is the comfort: Jesus does not rebuke her.
Precious Lesson #2 : From Belief in Doctrine to Trust in a Person
Jesus tells Martha, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha responds with solid theology, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” She believes in a future event, but Jesus gently shifts her focus:
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
Not I give resurrection. Not I will cause resurrection, But “I AM”.
We have it revealed to us that resurrection is not just a doctrine. It is a person. It is the person standing in front of Martha. It is Jesus Christ.
Christian faith is not merely believing that something will happen someday. It is trusting someone today and always.
It is at this point that Jesus asks the most searching of questions, “Do you believe this?”
NOT - Do you understand this ? NOT - Can you explain this ? BUT - Do you trust ME?
That question comes to us …
When the diagnosis stands … When the grave is sealed … When hope seems buried …
Do WE believe that Jesus is still resurrection and life? <PAUSE>
Precious Lesson #3 : The Tears of God
Then comes the shortest verse in the Bible, “Jesus wept.” The One who knows He is about to raise Lazarus still weeps. Why?
He weeps at the devastation of death. He weeps at the sorrow of His friends. He weeps at the brokenness of the world.
This tells us something profound: Our loving God is NOT emotionally distant from our pain.
When you stand at a grave — Jesus weeps.
When you receive crushing news — Jesus weeps.
When you feel abandoned — Jesus is not indifferent.
Christian hope is not cold optimism. It is hope wrapped in tears.
We do not worship a deity who stays far away.
We worship a Saviour who stands with us and cries. <PAUSE>
Precious Lesson #4 : “Lazarus, Come Out!”
Then Jesus prays — not because He needs power, but so they will believe. Then He shouts, “Lazarus, come out!” and out comes Lazarus, still wrapped in grave clothes.
Alive — but bound.
And Jesus gives another command:
“Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
I think of this as - Resurrection is immediate, but Freedom is sometimes gradual.
Some of us have been given new life in Christ — but we still wear grave clothes.
Old habits. Old fears. Old shame. Old labels.
Jesus brings life but a community of the faithful helps unwrap.
This is why YOUR faith community matters - we help one another remove what no longer belongs to the living.
Precious Lesson #5 : The Greater Resurrection
This miracle points us to what is to come. To where our Lenten journey is leading.
In just a short time, Jesus Himself will enter a tomb. This time, there will be no one to roll the stone for Him. No one to call Him out.
Yet on the third day, He will rise in glory showing us that Jesus conquered death - forever.
To give Lazarus life, to give us life - this would cost Jesus His own life.
That is the measure of the love that God has for each and every one of us.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
Holy God, Before raising Lazarus Jesus gave you thanks. Following His example we now give You thanks for hearing our prayers of intercession even before we pray them.
<Longer pause for personal reflection>
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our response is, “hear our prayer!”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Gracious God, in St. Matthews Gospel Jesus reminds us "that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” And so we thank You for Jesus' presence here with us today in this place as we raise our hearts and voices in worship, praise and thanksgiving.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Creator God drive away despair from our politics, revive our dreams of peace, justice and truth, restore our passion for what is good and right. Establish Your just and gentle rule throughout the world where there is conflict and where peace has been powerless and violent people hold sway.
We pray for all those who lead the nations of our world and for those in authority that they may always work for peace and for the good of their people.
We also raise before You all people who suffer in conflicts around the world, in Iran, The Holy Land, Ukraine, around Africa and elsewhere – Lord please bring peace.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God in His dealings with Mary, Martha and Lazarus Jesus showed His love for those friends who had become like family to him. We thank You for our friends and for the richness and diversity that they bring to our lives.
Help us to return that gift to them whenever we meet and to keep in touch with those who we see less frequently.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Loving God, touch, heal and restore all who are ill. Open their hearts and their minds to welcome Your restoring power so that their sickness ends and your healing begins.
Give the song of joy to all who are now on the road to recovery and recuperation and the song of thanks to all who helped them on that road.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China, in Germany, in the Czech Republic, in Syria and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Merciful God, the death of a friend is one of life's most difficult situations to cope with. Help us, through Jesus' example, to recognise that our tears are natural and bring healing.
Help us also to see that through His sacrifice, that first Good Friday death is no longer such a final thing and that we shall meet again in God's good time.
We especially raise before you at this time our recently departed sisters and brothers, Mateo (Italy), Pedro (Mexico), Annie and Mary (USA).
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries. Make the things that we choose to do worthy of the life, death, and rising again of Your Son.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Everlasting God we thank You for having heard us and, confident that all is safely in your hands, we go back out into the world surrounded by Your love and care in all that we do in the coming week.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
