Week 23, Day 2: The Raising of Lazarus
Today’s Reading: John 13:1-14:31
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
I am impressed with the response that Jesus gets from raising Lazarus from the dead. The group of Jews that accompanied Martha, Mary and Jesus to the tomb bare witness to the miracle. A man dead for four days, decay has begun and the smell would’ve been strong. At Jesus’ command this man comes forth alive, still bound in burial cloths. Wow! Certainly this would be enough for all to believe. But, some of those eyewitnesses go off to the Pharisees. The wording in 11:45-46 leads me to believe that these men did not believe in Jesus even after the miracle and went to report and plot with the Pharisees. I have met at least one person while door knocking who said he would not believe in Jesus unless he saw Him coming down the street riding a donkey’s colt. Others have said that what we need today is the working of miracles to instill faith in people. If the Jews who witnessed this miracle first hand did not believe, how can people think that miracles automatically bring forth faith?
Also, when you consider the crowds in Jerusalem, they had heard about Jesus raising Lazarus and sought to see Jesus and Lazarus. The crowd welcomed Jesus (at first) as the king of Israel. But when Jesus’ teaching does not match what they think the Christ is going to do (He says He will be lifted up) then they are troubled and do not believe in Him (12:32-34, 37). Again, we see that even though Jesus did the miracles that should have been proof for everyone to believe and accept His words, they were not willing to let go of their own concepts in order to follow Him. Miracles neither forced someone to believe nor made someone accept the teachings of Jesus. The miracles simply provided the evidence needed to those who would be willing to consider these things and acept them from an open heart.
Today we do not have the miracles, but we still have the evidence and are still looking for those who would consider these things and accept them from an open heart.
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