FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

The title of today’s gospel is “The Raising of Lazarus from the Dead.”   Yet in the entire gospel passage, we do not hear a single word spoken by Lazarus.  That’s a shame.  I’ve often wondered what Lazarus would have said after Jesus raised him from the dead. 

John’s Gospel records only seven miracles or signs and the raising of Lazarus is the final and greatest of the seven.

There are two different men names Lazarus in the gospels, so be careful not to confuse them.  This Lazarus, who is raised from the dead, is not the poor man covered with sores who sat at the gate of the rich man, begging for scraps of food.  That poor Lazarus died and went to heaven. 

The Lazarus in today’s gospel is the brother of Martha and Mary, whom we are told Jesus loved. 

Our lengthy gospel story begins rather strangely.  Martha and Mary send word, not by voicemail, email or text message, but by a messenger, to Jesus that their brother Lazarus is seriously ill and close to death.   But does Jesus panic?  Does he rush immediately to be with Lazarus, Martha and Mary?  No.  Instead, Jesus delays.

Do you remember how long he waited?  Two days.

Unlike most of us, who would drop everything, cancel appointments, find a dog-sitter, and rush to the bedside of someone we love, Jesus stays where He is.

The disciples must have been perplexed.  Why would Jesus, who healed complete strangers, not immediately rush to the bedside of His close friend?

John tells ius why Jesus waited.  “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” The delay was not a lack of love for Lazarus, Martha and Mary.  It was for the glory of God.

The disciples would eventually understand what “for the glory of God” meant, when the stone was rolled away from Lazarus’ tomb.  Jesus called Lazarus, who had been buried in the tomb, back to life. 

Do you remember how many days Lazarus was dead in the tomb?  Four days.

Truly this miracle was “for the glory of God that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

It is interesting to notice how the disciples reacted when Jesus decided to go to Bethany in Judea.  They were well aware of the growing plots by the scribes and Pharisee to kill Jesus.  They questioned why He would want to go back there.

But one disciple showed remarkable courage.  Do you remember who it was who said, “Let us also go to die with him”?  It was Thomas.  In this gospel, Thomas is anything but doubting.  For me, Thomas defines what it means to be a true friend and an intentional disciple of Jesus:  to go with Him, even when it could be dangerous.

Here is a something about Jesus that we sometimes overlook.  He had disciples.  He had apostles.  He had followers.  And, He also had friends.  Many of those friends likely came from His childhood and youth: family friends, neighbors  and fellow carpenters.

Among His closest friends were Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary. It was because of this friendship that Martha and Mary believed Jesus would not let Lazarus die.

When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, Martha ran out to meet Him.  Her “A” personality, comes through immediately as she pours out her grief and frustration, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 

At this moment, Martha still does not fully understand the divine power of her friend, Jesus.

This is when Jesus makes one of the most powerful statements in all of Scripture:  “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.  Do you believe this?”   

Martha replies, “Yes Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 

I hope each one of us could give Jesus that same answer.

Then comes the moment of glory.  Jesus orders the stone to be rolled away and prays aloud:  “Father I thank you for hearing me.”  Then he cries out, “Lazarus come out!” 

This is where I wish Lazarus had a speaking part.  I would love to know what it was like to be dead for four days.  But Scripture remains silent.

Death is a challenge for all of us.  The closer we are to someone who dies, the more painful it is. 

This gospel does not hide Jesus’ pain.  He grieves.  He weeps. He cries at the loss of his friend.

• Just as Jesus loved Lazarus, Martha and Mary, so He loves us.
• Just as Jesus wept for Lazarus, so He weeps for us whenever we turn away from Him through sin.
• Just as Lazarus was raised from the dead, so too will we be raised to eternal life.

For us death is not the end.  It is a passage, a transition, from this human life into eternal life, where we will share forever in the glory of God’s presence.