“Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.”

John 12:9-11 ( NIV )

Dear Lord:

May we not be afraid to share what You have done for us with others. Make us threatening to the ways of this world, just as Lazarus and You were to the ways of the priests.

Amen

Real Threats

A few years ago I read this passage and this notion finally stuck in my head - Jesus was not the only person that the chief priests wanted dead. Here, on the day before Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the priests were making plans to kill Christ and Lazarus. After this verse, nothing more is written about Lazarus and we are left to our own devices in figuring out what happened to him. But what happened to Lazarus is not the true heart of this passage.

The heart of this passage comes in the fact that the priests wanted Lazarus dead because he was being a witness. Because of the work Jesus did in his life, and his sharing the story of what had happened in his life, people were coming to Jesus. Individuals who had long been waiting for the Messiah were realizing that Jesus was The One. By hearing the story of Lazarus, they believed and put their faith in Jesus.

The priests felt threatened by Lazarus because he was testifying to what the Lord had done in his life. In today's society, so many people are still waiting for something, but they don't know what it is they are waiting for. They are searching for Jesus, but often they don't know what they are searching for. It is our job to be like Lazarus. We need to be testifying to the work the Lord has done in our lives. Like Lazarus, we were dead, but now we have been born again and given the promise of eternal life. How wonderful it would be if we, like Lazarus, became true threats to the ways of this world, because of our unashamed ability to share our faith journeys and the love of Christ with all.

JOSEPH PALMER