John 11:1-16
11 -->
The Death of Lazarus
11Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3So the sisters sent a message to Jesus,* ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ 4But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ 5Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6after having heard that Lazarus* was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
7 Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.’ 8The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?’ 9Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.’ 11After saying this, he told them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.’ 12The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.’ 13Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. 15For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’ 16Thomas, who was called the Twin,* said to his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I wish it were always that easy to see God's plan in the difficult ups and downs of life. Larzarus has died so that Jesus might be glorified and help others believe.
I tend to get pretty caught up in the here and now. And, it is kind of difficult to see how God is working on me for the future.
Now as a priest I can say that all of my most difficult experiences have helped me to be a better confidant and counselor. To listen closely and to help others look for the movement of the spirit in even the most difficult of circumstances. I don't think that God makes bad things happen so that we can learn something. But, I do think that God does not allow our struggle to be in vain. Think of the most poignant parts of your life that have formed you. How has the holy spirit moved you to be God's holy creation through the changes and chances of life?
Well, God has definitely used the changes and chances of life to fashion me more into his image and although I may not always be able to see it or feel it right now in a specific moment, the benefit of hindsight allows me to see the wonderful ways God has been using the circumstances of my life to transform me.
I can so relate to the disciples in this passage. They ask him a direct question and I'll translate -
We just left this place where the Jews were trying to kill you and you want to go back?! And us with you?! What are you nuts?!
And Jesus responds with the question:
Are there not twelve hours of daylight?
He goes on to talk about walking around in daylight vs. night time.
The text doesn't specifically state it, but I'm sure more than one of the disciples was thinking "What on earth is he talking about? What does any of this have to do with whether or not we go back to Judea?"
I can look back on my life or even look at the here and now and have this same experience - What on earth are you talking about, God? You want me to do what?
Thankfully He is patient with me and I am learning to be still and listen and hear and trust that He knows what He is doing and I don't have to jump to conclusions like I've done so many times and like Thomas who thinks they need to go and die with Lazarus.
Post a Comment