Today’s Gospel is the famous story of Lazarus’ resurrection from John
11. The outline of events in John 11:1-44 is fairly simple. Jesus is
east of the Jordan teaching and healing when a message arrives that His
friend Lazarus is sick. Jesus continues His work, and then despite
warnings of danger, He goes to see Lazarus’ family. By the time Jesus
arrives, Lazarus has been dead 4 days. Jesus has conversations with the
sisters Mary and Martha, offers a public prayer and raises Lazarus.
This
simple outline is interspersed with a great deal of dialogue, and the
conversations are as meaningful as the events. Both the story-line and
the dialogue point to a deeper understanding of Jesus' identity and
work. Raising one who has clearly been dead and buried for several days
is a unique miracle. It is not the act of any mere teacher, healer or
prophet. It is sign of the Messiah, the Christ, and it is an act which
demands a spiritual decision. Those who know of it should do as Martha
does and confess faith in Jesus as the Christ.
In the
verses which follow the raising of Lazarus (John 11:45-53), we see that
many believe, but others, especially those with power, are frightened
and angered. Some Pharisees and Sadducees plot to eliminate Jesus as a
threat to the religious and political establishment. Their reaction
points us toward Christ's coming Passion. It reminds us that His very
goodness leads to His death.
Jesus' contemporaries are
confronted by a choice. Because of His great and unique miracle, they
must decide if He really is the Messiah, the Redeemer. And the same
miracle leads to totally different reactions: some people have faith in
Jesus; others want to oppose and destroy Him. We still face the same
choices in our lives. Will we accept Jesus in faith or will we oppose
Him? May divine grace lead us to believe in Him and follow Him, even in
the way of the Cross!
