An Instrument of Understanding and Love

S.B.: John 11: 1 - 45

During Lent we have examined several notable events in the Life of Christ Jesus…
1. The Temptation of Jesus in the wilderness… We see Jesus here identifying himself as the Son of God.
2. Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, introducing the concept of being “born again.” This conversation also contains the most memorized verse in the Bible… John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son… that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life…” We see Jesus here identifying himself as the Savior of the World, promising salvation for whosoever will…
3. Jesus’ discourse with the Woman at the Well… in which he introduces the idea that if we drink of the water HE has to give, out of us will flow rivers of living water… We see Jesus here identifying himself as the Messiah… the Christ… the Anointed One and His Anointing.
4. Jesus healing a blind man, and the doubt and questioning that he was subjected to after this miracle. We see Jesus here identifying himself as the healer.
In today’s lesson, Jesus deals with the subject of death. His best friend, Lazarus has been sick for a while, and while Jesus is on a preaching tour, he receives the word that Lazarus has died. Jesus expressed a very deep human emotion at the news of his friend’s passing… The shortest verse in the Bible is found in this passage… “Jesus wept…”

Jesus is making another statement here in this passage… In this text he is identifying himself as the resurrection and the life.

Experiencing the passing of someone you love is never an easy time.

Grief often clouds rational and logical thinking. Emotions can be overwhelming at the same time our mind tries desperately to bring order to the unsettling reality and finality of death. Understanding death is beyond our human grasp, especially when it comes prematurely to those we love.

In this text, Martha and Mary grapple with the tardiness of Jesus. Word had been sent to him about the illness of Lazarus, but Jesus did not drop everything to come to their beloved brother. It made no sense to the sisters of Lazarus. Jesus healed so many, but why not help their brother?

Martha expresses her belief in the resurrection and the promise of new life, but does not fully understand the implications for her brother. She confesses, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. . . Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

As this drama unfolds before our eyes, Jesus is greatly disturbed by the time he gets to the tomb. Lazarus has been dead four days. Jesus orders the removal of the stone, but there is concern about the stench. Martha is not denying her brother’s death, but understands not only his death, but the decomposition of his body. “He has been in there already for four days, and he stinketh…” She believes that it is too late to turn back death. After all… dead is dead… right?

According to our human understanding, once someone is dead, that’s the end of it… it’s a hopeless case…

But Jesus has another plan. He understands the death of Lazarus will be used to glorify God and bring people to faith. In that respect, the delay by Jesus to respond to Lazarus might be understood as an act of love, so others might learn of a greater love.

Next Jesus offers a prayer as One who is unified with God. Although he prays for the sake of others, Jesus already knows his prayer will be answered because he knows God and God’s will. Jesus says the word and new life is given. Jesus cries out, “Lazarus, come out!”

Mary and Martha thought they had an understanding of Jesus, but then their brother became ill. Jesus did not respond as they anticipated. Despite Mary and Martha having great faith and understanding, they were unprepared for Jesus to raise their brother from death. They were so caught up in their own grief and limited understanding that they could not see the big picture involving resurrection. Yet, no one had seen a dead man brought to life from the tomb of death. How could there be understanding? This was beyond the human grasp or imagination. The resurrection of Lazarus serves to prepare followers of Jesus for his own resurrection following the crucifixion and burial. But again, how can there be understanding in these first followers for something unique in human history and beyond human comprehension?

Can we identify with Martha and the faithful who lift their voices in confession, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” (John 11:27 NRSV) We believe and we understand – even if our understanding is limited. Jesus proclaims to each of us who are shackled by the power of death and entombed by guilt and sin, “You are free.” We trust in the promise of new life. Like Lazarus, we can identify with the idea of being set free… and whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

Jesus endured death, hell and the grave not so much that he could understand us, but that we could understand him. Understanding people is a challenge. In part, it is hard to understand our own actions. Paul writes, “I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.” It is hard enough to understand ourselves and our own behavior let alone someone else. Francis of Assisi suggests in his prayer that we pray, “Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.” In this prayer, we are encouraged to focus on the other person and not ourselves. We are urged to listen closely for the other’s perspective.

At the foot of the cross, the Scribes and Pharisees mocked Jesus saying “He saved others, but he couldn’t save himself…” Or would it be more accurate to say that he wouldn’t save himself?

Lord, make us instruments of your peace;
where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

Lord Jesus,
grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

I Bid You Peace...
Pastor Ken+