“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live... “
This Sunday, the last weekend before Palm Sunday, the gospel presents us with the life-transforming account of the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-45). The gospel further describes that hard, painful, desolate place of grief when a loved one succumbs to the grip of death. In the pain and turmoil of death, Jesus’ powerful, authoritative voice proclaims that physical death is not the end. Jesus is God Incarnate with absolute and ultimate power over life and death, for “all things came into being through Him. And in His compassion, He offers comfort for sorrow, hope for despair, and most profoundly, new everlasting life.
Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill yet delayed going to see him. When He arrived, Lazarus was dead and entombed. Both Martha and Mary, overcome with grief and disappointment, mourned, “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died.” We all share Martha’s and Mary’s pain as we too have experienced grief and pain when confronted with the death of loved ones.
Jesus, Mary, Martha, and the townsfolk journeyed together to Lazarus’ tomb and there Jesus’ powerful voice spoke three verbal orders. First, looking at the stone enclosed tomb, Jesus’ voice resounded with authority, “take away the stone.” Jesus had the power to roll away the stone Himself, but always, He desires human participation. The folks obeyed reluctantly, thinking that Lazarus’ body would have begun decaying. We, God’s people are challenged to examine what spiritual stones block us from obeying God and working for His glory. Are we open to question the stones of certainty in our lives that may harden us and prevent us from discerning God’s voice?
The second order that Jesus gave was directed to the dead man, “Lazarus come out!” And Lazarus walked out of the tomb. The voice of Jesus is infinitely powerful, it pierced through the hard walls of the grave and the dead man’s body and soul and brought forth renewed life! God’s voice cannot be silenced. His purpose of bringing forth new life in believers will be accomplished. Jesus Christ invites us to come out of the way of sin that leads to death and live into His purpose.
Seeing Lazarus’ hands and feet bound with strips of burial cloth, Jesus gave a third order, “Unbind him and let him go.” We too can be unbound from our fears, our pain, our grief, and our unbelief. We cannot grasp the full meaning of physical death, but being unbound is being released from the death clothes that restrict us from accepting the freedom and abundant life which Christ offers to those who believe in Him.
The raising of Lazarus was for “God’s glory, so that the Son of Man may be glorified” and for encouraging belief in Jesus. The gospel tells us that many who witnessed Lazarus’ raising believed in Jesus. A community of believers was raised up to new life in Christ for the glory of God! Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He will experience even His own passion, death, and resurrection to bring new life to all. There is true, abundant life in Him, both in this world and on the other side of death. Jesus’ voice comforts us with hope, peace, and confidence. He invites us to trust and believe in Him so that we will never be overcome by hopelessness and despair but begin living His renewed life today. Amen.
