Lazarus
Notes
Transcript
Most people know the story of Lazarus, and his resurrection. We’re not going to talk about that today. Today, we’re going to consider another aspect of the story that we often overlook. Friendship.
“Friendship?” you ask? Yes. Have you ever considered God having friends? Or Jesus?
Sure we know that Jesus had “disciples”, and we often consider the heirarchy there between a rabbi and his students. But what about friendship?
If one does a search for the word “friend” in the Gospels you come up with verses like, John 15:13-14
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
and vs. 15, John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
I think it’s powerful to consider Lazarus as a friend of Jesus. There are only two times in the Bospels where we read of Jesus weeping. Lk19:14
But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
and John 11:35
Jesus wept.
To the point that the Jews (a term John often uses to describe the Jewish leaders of the time) said, John 11:36
So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
We don’t think of Jesuus having these “dear friend” kind of relationships.
I remember so many of the early Hollywood films where Jesus was portrayed almost as an unfeeling, almost zomby like character whose face never showed any expression other than a stoic sort of stare. As we read through the Gospels we miss these moments of Jesus’ expressing that kind of … for lack of a better term, “tenderness” if we’re not paying attention.
What was Jesus relationship with Lazarus? Let’s take a look of what we know.
Lazarus was from Bethany as were his sisters Mary and Martha.
Bethany sat in Judea, about 2 miles from Jerusalem on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives. The fact that Bethany is identified as “the town of Mary and her sister Martha” suggests that both of their parents had died. Jesus triumphal entry began from here.
Martha was likely the oldest and Lazarus likely the youngest as we read the family listed in verse 5. Tradition would have commonly llisted the family in order of age. Another clue to this is that the home is often described as Martha’s home - Lk 10:38
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
And you may remember Martha was working very hard hosting Jesus while her sister Mary simply sat at his feet, and Jesus answered her: Luk 10:41-42
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Mary, also plays significantly in the life of Jesus. Lazarus’ other older sister was the one who had annoints Jesus’ feet with ointment and wiped them with her hair just before the triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
What is clear is that Jesus spent a lot of time in Martha’s home and therefore interacted often with both Mary and Lazarus.
Lazarus himself was younger than his sisters, possibly considerably so. The family’s social status is given to us in several details. The expensive ointment that Mary used indicates that their family had at least moderate wealth. The number of mourners from Jerusalem at the death of Lazarus who came to console the sisters further points to financial security.
The family itself was prominent in their community as evident through the response to Lazarus’ death and resurrection. The extent and intensity of the mourning reflected Lazarus’ honor and esteem in the village, with friends and family travelling from distant places to join in the grieving.
Lazarus himself was well known in Bethany as when Jesus’ raises him from the dead, many of the Hews believed in Jesus as a result, and some go to the Pharisees in Jerusalem to report the event. The chief priests then plot to not only eliminate Jesus, but Lazarus as well.
When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,
The fact that all three are mentioned by name as exampled of named recipients of Jesus’ healings suggests they were part of the Christian community.
So again, we come to this time when Martha and Mary send for Jesus to let him know that their brother is ill, and notice how they word it, Jn 11:3
So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
Doesn’t Jesus love everyone? After all we say, “Jesus is love.” Clearly John is expressing something closer than just a simple broad spectrum love. Lazarus clearly holds a special place in Jesus’ heart.
Yet, after being summoned due to Lazarus’ illness Jesus remaineds for two days where he was, vs. 6. So that by the time Jesus’ arrives, Lazarus has already been in the tomb four days!
And so we read in vs. 35 of chapter 11, “Jesus wept.”
I think it’s profound that those who assigned the verses to our Scriptures singled this two word sentence out as an entire verse. John 11:35
Jesus wept.
It is the shortest verse in the entire Bible and its meaning is profound.
Why does Jesus weep?
Because of the people? Because of Martha and Mary? Because of Lazarus?
I think there is a part of all of it within that verse.
More than that I think there is a view to how Jesus views His followers.
We sing the Hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” but how often do we think of Jesus as a friend? Not just Lazarus’ friend, but our friend? My friend. Your friend.
To think that Jesus would weep over Lazarus can only mean that Jesus could and would weep over us as well. Yet its more than that - If Jesus would weep then surely Jesus would rejoice and celebrate with us as well.
What does that mean for you and for me?
How emotional do you get over others?
I wonder how callous our hearts have become to the point that we don’t weep. We don’t weep over the destitute, those caught in poverty, drug addiction, etc.
We often don’t feel the genuine joy when a sister or brother shares a victory or celebrates a place God is working in their lives.
We don’t think of Jesus doing this for us either.
Jesus calls us “friend.”
Lazarus reminds us of the closeness of relationship with Jesus. John’s Gospel reminds us of the relationships Jesus built up not just with Jews but Gentiles so that it gives each one of us hope.
So borrowing a bit from John Bevere for this outline:
Passage: John 11:33-36
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
Point: Jesus is emotionally invested in His friends, He is emotionally invest in you.
Ponder: Knowing Jesus is emotionally invested in you what are things in your life that would cause Him to rejoice? What are things that would cause Him to weep? How are you living like Jesus rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep?
Prayer: Loving LORD, thank you for your tender care and concern for Lazarus and his family. We know that you feel those same emotions for us as well. Remind us that we too are invited to celebrate and mourn over others lives as we seek to love them the way you love them. In Jesus Name, AMEN.
