Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

John 11: 1-16

One of the big mysteries about the death and resurrection of Lazarus is the fact that Jesus hears news of the serious illness of his dear friend, but deliberately delays the trip to Bethany. Why? We hear in the text that the man’s sisters were the same Martha whose focus was in the kitchen while her sister Mary’s attention was on pouring soothing oil over Jesus’ feet. This reference was to an earlier visit. Obviously the home of these three people served as a favourite rest stop for Jesus before he entered Jerusalem. And these siblings had become dear friends in the time Jesus had come to know them. So, why did he not rush to Lazarus’ side? Why wait? And why wait a whole two days?

The clue to the mystery is in Jesus’ reaction to the news. Clearly, he wanted to use the occasion to signal to the disciples and the Children of Israel that he was not only the Messiah, but he was also the Lord of Life and Death. His first comment tells it all:

“This sickness will not end in death.
No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

His disciples remind him that to return to Judea is dangerous. He barely escaped being stoned to death just a short time before, yet now he plans to travel to Bethany, within a short few hours walk of Jerusalem. Jesus’ response is telling. Without saying “I am the Light of the World” he suggests it by saying that those who walk in daylight do not stumble, only those who walk at night, “for they have no light”. His implication is clear. He needs to bring light to those who walk in darkness. In talking this way, he is calling up the prophet Isiaiah (9:2) “Those who walk in darkness have seen a great light”. The light Jesus intends to shine on the darkness is the light of Life on the darkness of Death. He says exactly what he intends to the disciples.

“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

Of course the disciples take him literally. It amazes me that not one of his disciples realized that this teacher spoke in metaphors all the time! As usual Jesus has to actually spell it out for them.

“Lazarus is dead and for your sake I am glad I was not there,
so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

In verse 16, Thomas declares that the disciples should also go so that they may die with him. By him Thomas might mean Lazarus, but I suspect Thomas is referring to Jesus. Thomas knows that the news of Jesus’ presence so close to the Temple would bring all the scribes and Pharasees, all Jesus’ critics and those who sought his death to the site of this event. I suspect that Thomas has already come to the conclusion that Jesus probably cannot raise anyone from the dead after two days. So Thomas, in a gesture of pseudo-bravery suggests they all go and let Bethany be the site of their final demise.

Poor Thomas! What a surprise he is in for! So many of us, who attend funerals tend to think of death as an end. We do not see our loved one any more. We believe we will be reunited in the hereafter, but we lured into to thinking there is no proof of a hereafter, only blessed assurance. This story wipes away the doubts of many in the faith. The actions Jesus takes indicate he has no urgency regarding death.

Later in the story, he simply calls Lazarus back from one side of death to stay on the other side. For Jesus, Lazarus, as he says, is merely asleep. There is great comfort in Jesus’ calm actions here, showing God’s glory so others may believe. In contrast, the thinking of Thomas, so like our secular world, imagines a showdown with Temple Guards, and a sure death with Jesus and all the disciples as a final end to this three year adventure. How wrong he is! Lazarus is restored.

Death is not the end. This story reminds us of that glorious fact.

Peter Mansell  September 6, 2014