Jesus raises a friend who dies and no one quite knows what to make of it. Should Jesus be lauded or condemned, the people were divided.
Even though it is not a part of our pericope for tonight, it is important none the less…and important for you to hear the handful of verses that follow our text.
On hearing of the raising of Lazarus – the council of the chief priests and Pharisees meet to decide what must be done…
This “Jesus problem” can no longer be ignored!
The counsel of the High Priest Caiaphas here – is important and crucial. He states, “It is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.”
It is a decision made in hatred, fear and expediency.
The raising of Lazarus – presents a final uneasiness for the status quo.
The problem was “the people,” or at least, all too many of them – believe this man – Jesus of Nazareth to be “the Messiah.”
What do the people know? They know nothing. They would follow anyone blindly. Feed them once and they are yours forever.
It does not even matter that this “Jesus person” has rejected all temporal authority, and all revolutionary claims, no matter what he has really said and done…he is upsetting everyone and everything.
Rome has taken notice.
Pontius Pilate has been kept in the loop.
It is by sacrificing an “innocent man” however much disliked by the council, that he is, that the council reckons that it can save its own position, power and prestige.
Jesus is a pawn in the game of chess, nothing more, nothing less.
He must be eliminated. The details need to be worked out.
There was great risk in what Jesus did on this day. The risk is that of “disbelief.”
Jesus knows God will hear him.
Jesus knows God will answer him.
Jesus knows beforehand, that Lazarus will be raised to new life.
The real risk has to do with the people. Will they become afraid? Will they scatter? Will they equate this with some kind of evil sorcery? Will they think this is Magic? Will they think about demonic possession?
Will this “sign of signs” bring about a kind of final rejection?
Or, will people see God at work, blessed be he?
When Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life…whoever lives and believes in me – will never die.”
Will the people believe – or will they laugh him to scorn? Therein lies the real question of the day.
It is a gamble. It is a risk.
But Jesus knows this – he cannot allow Lazarus to lie in his grave another day…it is now or never.
Lazarus has been dead four days. It was a popular belief that soul and body were finally separated after three days – with no hope of resuscitation…
Lazarus’ resurrection points the way to Jesus’ own resurrection.
The event (and it was a major kind of event) forces decision on belief or disbelief in Jesus. His enemies rightfully understand that the die is now cast.
It is this decisiveness for faith, in a miracle that surpasses any possibility of rational explanation, that gives the incident its primary dramatic tension.
Will people believe or will people run as fast as they can in the other direction?
There is but one motive for this sign…and the motive is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it…
Supposing he is not glorified?
Supposing people are terrified?
Standing there at the tomb of Lazarus – with the stone still in place, the people crying and sobbing, the two sisters of Lazarus in deep pain and anguish, and Jesus himself feeling a little weepy-eyed…
What do you do?
And Jesus can only think of Mary and Martha, who have lost their parents and now have lost their only brother…where will they go? Who will take care of them? He loves them all so much…they are his best friends…
So, in a moment filled with all kinds of emotion, Jesus lifts up his head, prays so as everyone can hear him – and then in a loud voice – he cries out Lazarus -come out. Unbind him, let him go. The die is now cast.