Reflection: The Resurrection and the Life

Yesterday’s Good Shepherd is today naming a few of his precious sheep. One of them died. Dear Lazarus was part of a little flock just outside Jerusalem. In light of Jesus almost being stoned in that region, his buddies are not keen for him to attend. But in light of being the Light, and entering the pointy bit of his mission, Jesus is all about attending.  

I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice … For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.*  

Spoiler alert: Jesus is orchestrating another epiphany! For the glory of God … and that they [and you and I and anyone outside the fold] may believe,* Lazarus will be the illustration, his sister Martha’s the declaration, and sister Mary’s the demonstration. 

“If only, LORD …” sobs Martha, who ran to meet the shepherd.  

He lifts her teary-lamb-y face to his. “… do you believe?”  

“Yes LORD,” she bleats … and creedal-y recites, “I believe in God … and in Jesus Christ … and in the resurrection to come …” 

Then Mary, buckling at his feet: “If only, LORD …”  

The Good Shepherd weeps. Weeps because he’s human. Weeps with grief, with love, with empathy; with indignation at death and no doubt, with heaviness knowing his mission to come. 

“Father, show them your face in the face of death,” prays Jesus. 

Ka-pow! Jesus beats death. Lazarus is raised! And many see and believe.**  

Martha sees. She sees that the resurrection is now. 

Mary fore-sees. She believes his death to come, and on his next visit she will anoint Jesus with costly oil and devotion. 

Prayer:

LORD, I believe, not just about you, but in you. You are my resurrection-life.

Death is detestable, but in the light of your conquest, it’s just ‘the dark tunnel into the ballroom’*** where we’ll shine like the stars. Keep my trust and confidence alive and contagious until then.

 Notes:

*John 10:16-17; John 11:4,15,42

**John 11:45 (But from that day on, some made plans to put him to death. John 11:53)

***pastor Tim Keller