From Death to Life

Jesus received word that Lazarus, one of his closest friends, was ill and possibly dying.

He lived in Bethany with his two sisters, Mary and Martha.

The message indicated, “he whom you love is ill.”

Inexplicably, Jesus decided not to leave immediately; he stayed two more days.

Cryptically, Jesus said, “This illness does not lead to death.”

It sounds like Jesus is saying that Lazarus would recover, and God would receive glory in his healing.

His disciples said nothing in response to this, leaving the decision to his wisdom.

But, after two days, Jesus seemed to have changed his mind and wanted to go to Bethany.

Saying, “Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.”

If Lazarus had fallen asleep, then Lazarus would be fine, and anyone could wake him.

The disciples weren’t ready to return to the place where they were threatened with stoning.

Instead of “Doubting Thomas,” he was brave, if a little fatalistic, saying they would go and would at least die with him.

To his disciples, it looks like Jesus was wrong; Lazarus had been dead for four days.

When Martha and then Mary met Jesus, they said they believed that Jesus would have healed Lazarus had he been there.

But, even when Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again,” they misunderstood him.

Like the Pharisees, they believed that Lazarus would be raised “in the last days.”

But, they didn’t believe that Jesus could do anything right then, since Lazarus was dead for four days.

In their belief, Lazarus’ soul could return to his body before the end of three days, but not four.

Even when Jesus came to the tomb, Martha literally put herself in the way of Jesus and spoke only of the physical practicality of her brother’s body.

Perhaps one of the greatest fears that we have is the loss of a loved one.

It often comes as a shock, as we who are left grieving must tend to the practical realities of our loss.

In those moments, we have little room to explore divine possibilities as the enemy robs us of joy and reminds us that we are bound to this limited human experience.

Instead of being able to celebrate a life lived with joy, often, we may feel enslaved by anguish and grief.

But there are indeed healthy ways for us to grieve.

Holding back our emotions might be necessary for a short time to cope.

But, neither should we allow our emotions to rule us.

Here, Jesus shows restraint, neither indulging in a selfish desire to hold on to someone he loved.

But, neither did he deny his emotions or even the facts of bodily death.

Where we might view death as the ultimate finality, Jesus provided here a way of understanding death as a temporary condition for those who believe in him.

When the disciples questioned why Jesus wanted to go back, Jesus preached a mini sermon.

He talked about those who walk in the day, and those who walk in the light.

Implying those who walk during the day with those who join him (the Light) in his work and those who walk in the dark stumble because they have no light to guide them.

This symbolism of darkness and light had been used throughout Scripture referring to righteous life in God.

Jesus did initially speak in symbolism of death as “sleep”, but because his disciples mistook him, he spoke frankly, “Lazarus is dead.”

In a display of vulnerability, Jesus wept, maybe not just at the loss of his friend, as the neighbors claimed.

Jesus was troubled, but as John Wesley described it was “tender trouble.”

Jesus could have easily prevented this event from occurring, if that had been the case.

Jesus emotions did not seem to be driven entirely by circumstance.

He seems to have carefully weighed the potential impact, employing Godly wisdom for other’s benefit.

He wept because of their unbelief, especially in the face of their claiming to believe in him.

He was troubled by their sheer weight of their hopelessness in the face of death.

But he did not react with frustration or denial, only with tender instruction.

First, Jesus claimed his identity with the words “I am.”

This would have been clearly heard by first-century Jews as Jesus claiming the divine authority of God.

And doubled down, claiming divine power over creation as “the resurrection and the life” himself.

Then, Jesus made his first command to “Take away the Stone.”

To inspire others to act with faith.

The Jews, the Pharisees, the disciples, Martha, and Mary all made statements of faith, but Jesus challenged them to confirm their faith with action.

Second, Jesus spoke to his beloved friend, “Lazarus, come out!”

This was a command of power over death; he spoke as if death had no power.

Nothing could separate them, not even death.

When at last, Lazarus miraculously came to the entrance of the tomb, Jesus commanded that he be freed from his grave clothes to live again.

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, not so that he could have his friend back, as much as he might have wanted that.

But, that those who witnessed it would believe that Jesus was whom he claimed to be.

On that day, the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God brought life where there way death, joy where there was sorrow, and hope to those who witnessed it.

On that day, mourners became witnesses of matchless power of God to bring forth life.

Today, God calls all who mourn to become witnesses of his power to bring life.

Not by ignoring the effects of loss, but by understanding loss as transition, change to something more.

After Jesus ascended, sent his Spirit to enliven his people, to draw together a people made alive in a new way, to the powerful, life-changing way of God.

A life of freedom and joy beyond understanding.