Today's gospel, John 11:1-45, is one of the most significant passages in all scripture. St. John's story about Jesus raising Lazarus demonstrates Jesus’ power over death. It sets the stage for Jesus' own death and resurrection. And it offers all of us who believe in Jesus the consolation that even when we die, our spirits will live forever.
Like the stories about the woman at the well and the man born blind, this encounter between Jesus and Lazarus was a transforming moment for Lazarus, for the disciples, and for many people who witnessed the miracle. Jesus told the disciples as they prepared to go to Bethany, "Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him" (John 1:14-15). As I reflected on this story, it occurred to me that we have no idea how Lazarus felt about being brought back to life. He never said a word that was recorded. But the miracle clearly had a profound impact on other people. St. John tells us that “many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in [Jesus]” (John 11:45). In fact, Lazarus became almost as much of a celebrity as Jesus. Large crowds gathered “not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead” (John 12:9). And Lazarus became as much of a threat to the Pharisees as Jesus so “the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him” (John 12:10-11).
Although most of the attention in this story is on Lazarus, it is the interaction between Jesus and Martha that is the challenge for us. Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26). He then asked, “Do you believe this?" Martha’s answer was confident and strong, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world” (John 11:27). Just as Jesus directed this question to Martha, he directs the question to all of us. “Do you believe this”? Do you believe that I AM the resurrection and the life? For the disciples and many others, faith came as they witnessed the miracle of Lazarus or they experienced the miracle of sight, or of healing. For us belief in the Resurrection is an act of absolute faith. It transcends time, history and the limitations of our physical world and our physical selves. It is the great mystery of Christianity.
As we complete the final days of Lent and prepare ourselves to enter into Holy Week, Let us join with Martha and the Communion of Saints declaring, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
Merciful God,
you showed your glory to us all
by sending your Son
to conquer the powers of death
and call us forth into life.
Break the bonds which bind us,
that we may believe and proclaim Christ,
the source of life,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN
