Got Fruit ?

(updated:20080816)

Last night while reading the book of John, I found something "neat" about the death and resurrection of Lazarus; as if being risen from the dead isn’t something in itself to marvel at.  Initially I was caught up in the timeline time line of events, and found myself going back to putting down on paper, thoughts from study time.  The sequence of events is fascinating, when you actually read and understand the who, where, what, when and how’s surrounding Lazarus’ death.  Christ’s reaction to the news of  Lazarus’ illness along with His plan of action following Lazarus’s death are intriguing; something I hope to post on later in the week.  For now though, let’s fast forward to Christ’s return to His dear friend.

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead:

John 11:38-40
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 "Take away the stone," he said.
      "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 believed, you would see the glory of God?"

 "Take away the stone."…  Prior to Jesus saying this to Lazarus’ sister Mary; and the Jews (John 11:38) that accompanied her to see Christ as He entered the village, Martha had spoke with the Lord outside of the village:

John 11:21-27
21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

Martha expresses to Jesus Christ that she does in fact believe that Christ is life in verse 21, then she goes on to proclaim her faith in God’s promises: ‘But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’.  Jesus then responds with a promise  in verse 23: "Your brother will rise again."   Now Martha is convinced of these facts, but is thinking to a later resurrection, nothing so immediate.  Jesus then asks for confirmation from Martha of her confession of faith, kind of like a car salesman getting the final approval (commitment) to close the deal.  "So Mr. & Mrs Customer, let me make sure I understand correctly; if I can get you financed today, you’ll take delivery of your new car?"

25 Jesus said to her (Martha), "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Fast forward to Jesus and entourage at the cave where Lazarus’ was laid to rest.  Jesus is about to perform a miracle, He is going to snatch a man from the grip of death.

 "Take away the stone," he says.

But wait.. here comes that foot dragging that we like to do when God has something to demonstrate in our lives.  Martha and company aren’t expecting this, after all Lazarus is d-e-a-d. "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."   Four days or 4 months, what’s the difference to God in the Flesh!

40… "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

He said: "Take away the stone."

The Bible tells us that there was a physical stone laid across the entrance to the cave where Lazarus lay.  Without a doubt Jesus was literally telling Martha and company to remove the literal stone(John 11:38).  Now surely Jesus didn’t actually need anyone to remove the stone for Him, one wave of His hand like a Obi Wan Kenobi and whoosh, off it went, right?  And unlike Superman, the stone wasn’t from some far off universe that negated His powers.

I think that though the stone was physical back then, as His word speaks to us now, that stone is in a way a metaphor for the doubt and faltering trust we sometimes experience.  I think that Jesus may have been saying to us: "Hey look, I’m going to do what I promise, but you have to remove your doubts and fears in order for me to do my part for you,you have to trust in me.  Now take away the stone!"

File under: "How BIG is you God?"

Grace and peace be with you.