2024_07_31 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- John 11:1-56, John 12:1-19
Lazarus’ story is amazing even though we don’t know a lot about him. We do know that he and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, are good friends of Jesus. We learn a good bit about the sisters from a dinner party they had for Jesus and His disciples (see Luke 10:38-41) as well as from our reading this week surrounding Lazarus’ death. Though, we don’t learn much about him– at least not directly. We know Lazarus got sick (we don’t know what the illness was) and that he got progressively worse for several days, and then died. During his last days, Lazarus’ sisters cared for him and sent for their friend Jesus. Jesus delayed coming until His friend had passed. We read that the delay was purposeful, but Lazarus and his sisters weren’t privy to that information at the time. When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days. Jesus then, in a fantastic turn, calls to Lazarus and restores his life. This event, just outside Jerusalem, captures the attention of the whole region, including Jesus’ enemies, who are now, more than ever, determined to kill Him. Lazarus is also marked for death, not because of anything he had done but for what had been done for him,
“Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.” John 12:10–11 (NLT)
This has had me thinking. Lazarus is targeted because he has had his life restored by Jesus. Lazarus responds with gratitude and appreciation (John 12:2). Lazarus, public identification as a friend and follower of Jesus, put him in the crosshairs of Jesus’ enemies. The question I have is, am I willing to be identified with Jesus when I am in a hostile environment? When those around me have animosity or hatred toward The Christian faith or the church, do I go silent? When I am surrounded by cynics or critics, do I keep my relationship with Christ secret to avoid problems? Am I willing to be known as a follower even if it means I may become the target of other’s animosity?
Lazarus surely knew that his association with Jesus was making him a target. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but he had enemies. Lazarus stands out as a man of courage and integrity. Am I willing to stand with Jesus and take whatever comes?
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor