I was up early this morning. To early! At 3:00 I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep because of all the "things" on my mind. I tossed and turned for a half hour before giving up and getting up. Ever have a short night's sleep? Lazarus had been dead for several days. The King James says that "he stinketh". You have to love the language! For the people mourning his loss those days had begun while he was yet alive but ill and heading towards death. Weary from their waiting and loss they were worn down and spent. It's difficult to imagine the scenario that happened next. The disciples had their agenda, the people had their agenda and the Son of God had his. He had delayed going to see Lazarus because the situation would bring glory to God. The disciples were tagging along and not really understanding the kingdom of God thing very well. The relatives had different relationships with Jesus with some being close and others acquaintances. When Jesus finally came upon the scene Lazarus was dead and buried. He looked upon the people and the Bible tells us "Jesus wept." What was it he wept about?
There is a lot that is said in that which is unspoken. Sometimes we need to be able to see behind the scene and gain a different perspective in order to understand what is going on, what part we play and how we can facilitate His will in our lives. In John 8 we are told the story of the religious authorities who brought the woman caught "in the very act of adultery" to Jesus with questions aimed at cornering Jesus. He looks at the crowd and asks what the law says. He bends down and writes on the ground. I believe he was writing their names in the dirt. He then tells them that whoever is sinless to cast the first stone. He bends down again and writes in the dirt. I believe he was writing their sins by their names. Why? Because as he was doing so they, one at a time, began to drop the stones and walk away. When he is done they are gone. He asks the woman where her accusers are. She tells him there is no one. He says that he forgives her and she is to go and sin no more. What was left unsaid? What lesson did he teach to his disciples and those who sought justice?
Imagine if you will that you are in a desert community much like the Mideast today. You have your band of merry men with you. You send them into a nearby village to buy food and remain behind. That's what Jesus did. He then went to the well where he asked a Samaritan woman for something to drink. She confronts him that she is a Samaritan woman and he shouldn't be talking with her. He says to her that he can give her water so that she will never thirst again. She questions him but he puts this information in front of her. He tells her what she knows and he couldn't have known. He tells her the past and her relationships. When she returns to the village she tells everyone about the man who told me everything about me. They are urged by her to go and see this man. The disciples return and are, as usual, dim and short sighted. They can't see the mercy and grace but only the law that binds. Jesus set a woman free. They see he crossed the line and associated with someone he shouldn't have.
In the first scenario we are the people who did not believe the power of God. He wept over them. He weeps over us. In the second scenario we are those who bring the allegations against others while we sit comfortably in our sin. He called them out in such a way that they, as we, have no escape from the truth about ourselves. In the third scenario we are the woman at the well. We know who we are and know that we don't deserve the goodness and graciousness of God. We seek that which we don't deserve. In the first scenario we are Lazarus being risen from the dead by the power of God. In the second scenario we are the woman caught in adultery but offered grace and mercy. In the third scenario we are the woman whom shouldn't be approached by the religious much less the Son of God. In the first scenario we are the disciples not understanding but enthralled with what Jesus was doing. In the second scenario we are the disciples who thought Lazarus was just asleep and Jesus was going to wake him. In the third scenario we are the disciples who couldn't get past their own religiosity long enough to see that the mercy and grace of God is sent to all mankind.
We are players on the stage of life Shakespeare said...or something close to that. We have choices as to what our lives reflect. We make choices day and night that affect how we bring the Gospel to the world (or don't). It's your choice. Who will you choose to be today?
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