JOHN 11: 1-45

Jottings on John…Lent 5…2017 

J.A. Swanson’s bright cover for William Willemon’s ‘The Intrusive Word’¹, is a vibrantly coloured illustration of the scene in the cemetery at Bethany. A kind of icon. A crowd of people is wending its way to Lazarus’ grave via different paths. Carrying arms full of bright flowers. The tomb is in the foreground. Nearby, singers & musicians are playing, & no doubt, wailing. Children are climbing on top of the tomb for a better view of what’s going on here. 

Men have rolled the great stone seal to one side. Martha & Mary are there of course, comforting each other. Jesus & Lazarus are hugging. Lazarus, a grey-looking figure, still bound in grave cloths. Jesus, in bright gold, looks to be using His free hand to remove His friend’s head cloth! 

This vivid portrayal is brimming with life. Brings the whole scene alive. As Jesus brings Lazarus to life. As Jesus is Resurrection & Life. For us, too. As Sign (the 7th JN records) of Who He Himself is. As foretaste of what God will prove Himself capable of doing for Jesus in a few days time. (After three days, compared with Lazarus’ fourth day, but what’s a day with God!) This one picture has brought the story of Lazarus alive for me more than any sermon I’ve heard - or preached!

Can we preach this passage so it speaks to us of the moment, rather than as a history lesson? So it becomes truly powerful for us? Vividly, vibrantly, colourfully? No more shades of grey when resurrection’s in the air! ! Could we make not only Lazarus, but the story, come alive as this picture does? Bringing everyone in it, bringing us all, as well as Lazarus, back to life? Help us all find ourselves in the picture in a today version of the story? Discern how Jesus can raise us from any deadness we’re experiencing? Now. No need to wait for any raising up on some ‘Last Day’! Discern how God in Jesus frees us from whatever binds us & keeps us dead & ‘grey’ - for any number of days? 

The above ‘icon’ also illustrates the way our lives are all inter-linked: family, birth, life, suffering, death. With the colourful & not so colourful all linked with, caught up one way or another with everyone & everything going on. Life-giving, or not. Even those doubtful, or merely curious! What role are we playing in today’s new version we’re painting with our lives? Where do we find God, where does God find us, alive in our new picture?

¹ Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1994