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Fifth Sunday of Lent: "Lazarus, come out!"
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April 1, 2017“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” (Hamlet, act 1, scene 5, line 167)
The story of Lazarus is the last of the signs that Jesus performed on his way to Palm Sunday. We read about some of the signs during Lent. There was the Samaritan woman who came to the well and Jesus promised water “welling up to eternal life.” Last week was the man who was “blind from birth” who came to sight and faith. This week, we listened to the story of Jesus resuscitating a corpse, Lazarus. This story is not medical notes from an ancient coroner’s report, but a sign post in a dark place. The signs Jesus performs sometimes spark faith (Jn 2:11) and sometime opposition. (Jn 11:47-48). In this case, the sign provoked a deadly response from the Sanhedrin and Rome. Christ’s resurrection changed how we Christians think about death. Without Christ, death is dark, soul sucking and hopeless. Whether it is a person of advanced years who suffered much or the untimely death of a child, death is a dark place. The prophet Ezekiel describes death as a dry, dusty “valley filled with bones.” (Ez. 37:1).
When Jesus heard of his friend Lazarus’ struggle, he didn’t immediately respond. He waited. His disciples told him, “Master, the one you love is ill.” Jesus responded that this illness was not to end in death, but instead would give glory to the Son of God. When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead four days. When he told the people to remove the stone from Lazarus’ grave, Martha said that there would be a stench from Lazarus’ decaying flesh.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead as the paramount sign that he is the Lord of Life. Last week, Jesus said that “I am the light of the world.” This week he told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; everyone who believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” This saying is the core of the Gospel
All of Jesus’ miracles were just holding actions against death. They were signs that pointed to something more. Every miracle just postpones the reality of death. The early Christians had to deal with both the reality of Jesus’ resurrection and their own deaths. Jesus said if you believe in me, even if you die, you will live. St. Paul wrote, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then the one who raised Christ from the dead will bring your mortal bodies to life also through his Spirit dwelling in you.” (Rom. 8)
There are two things that are inevitable, death and taxes. Well, death anyway. Death is the challenge to our self-sufficiency. We can entomb ourselves in our desires and misuse of God’s creation. Lent is a time when we cooperate with God’s action freeing us from sin. Lent reminds us that in fundamental ways our self-sufficiency is tremendously limited. We live an illusion when we think our power and ability to control our lives are all that we need to live. Human power is limited.
The raising of Lazarus occurs at a crucial point in Jesus’ career. As a result of this miracle, Jesus went to Jerusalem for the final time. Expectations were very high and fueled by speculation about what he would do next. The powers that be in the Temple and in Rome are set against him. Will his power be limited? The events of Palm Sunday and Easter will reveal the meaning of his statement to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Resurrection is not the resuscitation a corpse. The Resurrection transforms and transcends our life. Christ’s promise of eternal life does not render death powerless, but rather transcends it. This is the daily challenge of faith as we face the death of those whom we love.
