March 9, 2014 John
11:1-44
First
Sunday in Lent Psalm 104: 27-30
The
raising of Lazarus from the dead in John 11 is believed by most scholars to
serve as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ own death and resurrection later in the
story. Lazarus is resuscitated; Jesus is resurrected. Similar acts of God, but
the latter of a whole different order. Let us reflect on what it means to be
“raised from the dead” as well as live in a post-modern, post-resurrection
world.
I
believe that in John 11:40 Jesus says something very important for the living
of this life here and now even as I trust
in God for what constitutes our “afterlife.” Jesus states that the purpose of
his healing of a dead man is so that we might “see the glory of God.” It is a
living out our purpose for being - to love as Jesus loved irrespective of age,
sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any of the other myriads of ways we too
often try to divide and conquer. As John depicts it, God seeks to unite us all in God’s own love and in our love
one for another.
Recently
I viewed a webcast discussion on the topic of “What is truth?” by a panel of
three science- minded highly committed fellow Christians. Each sought to
integrate (or have compliment) their understanding of the physical world with
what lies beyond it (their religion).
Each
summarized the meaning of the term
“resurrection” as it related to truth: the ever-evolving world is not destined
for annihilation but transformation; resurrection has more to do with
transformation in this life and to increase in both life and love of God and
neighbor.
This
resonates as truth with me. And so let us pray that as our comprehension of the
understanding of Jesus’ resurrection grows, so let our faithful actions
increase. Amen.
Michael
Boyd
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