3/27/2019 2 Comments (at the bottom of this reflection.)
Today's question:
"Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
From John 11:
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father,I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father,I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
Reflection from Rev. Dr Irene Taylor
This scene takes place at the burial spot of Lazarus. Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha and a good friend of Jesus, is dead. Mary, Martha, and the entire community grieve Lazarus' death. When Jesus arrives, Mary says to Jesus, grieving, "If you had been here our brother would not have died."
The text tells us that Jesus is deeply moved by the pain and sorrow of Lazarus' family and friends. It also gives us a window into the compassion and spirit of Jesus and shows Jesus' ability to identify with the pain and sorrow of others. We see a Savior who weeps with His people. However, despite His sorrow, Jesus speaks to the hurts of others and reminds them of God's plan of hope and restoration for all.
Jesus reminds Mary that He is "the resurrection and the life." He says, "Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." This is a promise that gives us a glimpse into Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and the authority God has given Jesus.
Jesus then directs them to move the stone. Martha warns Jesus that by now, there is a bad odor, for four days have passed since Lazarus died. Jesus responds, "Martha, did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" Jesus is not asking a question; He is stating a fact, a rather emphatic statement of truth. What Jesus does next is most astonishing. He calls Lazarus, the dead man bound in his burial clothes from the tomb, and the glory of God is manifested in their very presence. To reveal the glory of God is to uncover what is hidden. Jesus' mission on earth was to uncover the hidden nature of God. Through the ministry of Jesus, God's grace and mercy were revealed so that all might believe and be saved. That which was once hidden is now unveiled!
Jesus chooses to use this impossible situation to remind some and to give witness to others of the power of Almighty God. Jesus, like His earthly mother, Mary, also believed that nothing was too difficult for God. Standing in their midst, in the person of Jesus was God! God in the person of Jesus is the gift of eternal life. Jesus would demonstrate that death has no power over that which God has claimed and over God's own. Jesus gives them a prelude to what God was about to do in and through Christ.
They have witnessed Jesus restore life to a dead body that will again see death. However, this experience pales in contrast to what will take place at Calvary. Not death, not a grave, not burial clothes, nor a huge stone rolled in front of a tomb can keep Jesus, the living God, bound in that tomb. The God who walked among us human creatures defeated death, the sin of this world that separated us from God. Through the power of His resurrection we have been born anew, and in this new life nothing can destroy or separate us from God.
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus define the meaning of everlasting life. Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead spoke to the power of God that now resided in Beloved Son of God, the power that rescues and saves all. Standing in their midst and also in the midst of us is the "I am," who is present with us in the fullness of God's glory. As the book of Hebrews states, "He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." Thus, you and I can declare that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. "Those who believe in Christ, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."
Therefore, the question raised in this text is not really a question but a statement. However, it begs an answer from us. This season of Lent, let us ponder our relationship with Jesus. Do we accept the free gift of everlasting life that God has given to us through the Beloved Son, Jesus? Make your discipleship count by placing complete faith and trust in Jesus and see the glory of God work miracles and wonders in your life.
The text tells us that Jesus is deeply moved by the pain and sorrow of Lazarus' family and friends. It also gives us a window into the compassion and spirit of Jesus and shows Jesus' ability to identify with the pain and sorrow of others. We see a Savior who weeps with His people. However, despite His sorrow, Jesus speaks to the hurts of others and reminds them of God's plan of hope and restoration for all.
Jesus reminds Mary that He is "the resurrection and the life." He says, "Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." This is a promise that gives us a glimpse into Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and the authority God has given Jesus.
Jesus then directs them to move the stone. Martha warns Jesus that by now, there is a bad odor, for four days have passed since Lazarus died. Jesus responds, "Martha, did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" Jesus is not asking a question; He is stating a fact, a rather emphatic statement of truth. What Jesus does next is most astonishing. He calls Lazarus, the dead man bound in his burial clothes from the tomb, and the glory of God is manifested in their very presence. To reveal the glory of God is to uncover what is hidden. Jesus' mission on earth was to uncover the hidden nature of God. Through the ministry of Jesus, God's grace and mercy were revealed so that all might believe and be saved. That which was once hidden is now unveiled!
Jesus chooses to use this impossible situation to remind some and to give witness to others of the power of Almighty God. Jesus, like His earthly mother, Mary, also believed that nothing was too difficult for God. Standing in their midst, in the person of Jesus was God! God in the person of Jesus is the gift of eternal life. Jesus would demonstrate that death has no power over that which God has claimed and over God's own. Jesus gives them a prelude to what God was about to do in and through Christ.
They have witnessed Jesus restore life to a dead body that will again see death. However, this experience pales in contrast to what will take place at Calvary. Not death, not a grave, not burial clothes, nor a huge stone rolled in front of a tomb can keep Jesus, the living God, bound in that tomb. The God who walked among us human creatures defeated death, the sin of this world that separated us from God. Through the power of His resurrection we have been born anew, and in this new life nothing can destroy or separate us from God.
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus define the meaning of everlasting life. Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead spoke to the power of God that now resided in Beloved Son of God, the power that rescues and saves all. Standing in their midst and also in the midst of us is the "I am," who is present with us in the fullness of God's glory. As the book of Hebrews states, "He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." Thus, you and I can declare that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. "Those who believe in Christ, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."
Therefore, the question raised in this text is not really a question but a statement. However, it begs an answer from us. This season of Lent, let us ponder our relationship with Jesus. Do we accept the free gift of everlasting life that God has given to us through the Beloved Son, Jesus? Make your discipleship count by placing complete faith and trust in Jesus and see the glory of God work miracles and wonders in your life.
Comments
Christy Piszkiewicz
Thu, Mar 28, 2019 at 10:31 am
I love the connection of Jesus uncovering what was hidden-Lazarus, and Jesus mission on Earth to uncover what is hidden in the nature of God. Never thought about it that way Thanks
Thu, Mar 28, 2019 at 10:31 am
I love the connection of Jesus uncovering what was hidden-Lazarus, and Jesus mission on Earth to uncover what is hidden in the nature of God. Never thought about it that way Thanks
kay maloney
Thu, Mar 28, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Thanks Pastor, I like the last line of your reflection that our discipleship matters when we put our complete faith & trust in Jesus, we see God work miracles in our lives. Just like Jesus thanks for being our teacher.
Thu, Mar 28, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Thanks Pastor, I like the last line of your reflection that our discipleship matters when we put our complete faith & trust in Jesus, we see God work miracles in our lives. Just like Jesus thanks for being our teacher.
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About Today's Author
Rev. Dr. Irene Taylor is the pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Des Plaines.
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