Transformation

Inspired by John 11.

Lazarus was dead when Jesus arrived at Bethany. It had been 4 days already that he died and his body had been entombed, a large rock rolled over on it to seal the smell of decay away.  Martha, one of Lazarus’ two sisters met Jesus on the road to their house looking for an explanation for Jesus’ tardiness: “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died”. We can imagine the subtext of her statement: “Where were you? Did you not care? Wasn’t he your friend? Did you not love him?”

Jesus understands the question, not only the expressed one, but the ones underneath. He also understands the emotions and the pain. Yet, as he normally does, he avoids the obvious response, the explanation of the circumstances, or a confrontation with the emotions. He understands the real context of the story. He is actually in control of its context. This is not only about Lazarus’ death, or the death of a friend, nor about the mourning of a loved person, and certainly not about the explanation of a larger plan that goes beyond any of the characters in the story.  His reply to Martha is a more direct statement: “Lazarus will rise again”; to which she continues: “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection of the last day”. And Jesus follows with a revelatory statement and a direct question:  “I am the life and the resurrection, and who ever believes in me, even though they die, will live. And every one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  Martha answers with a resounding “Yes, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, and the one coming into the world”.  This is a declaration that not even some of his disciples had already made at that point. She then runs back to the house and calls her sister Mary declaring that “the Lord is here and is looking for you”.

Mary comes out followed by a group of faithful "Jews" (as John's Gospel calls them), wailing at her loss, and makes the same original declaration to Jesus “had you been here earlier, my brother would not have died”. Jesus is “deeply moved and distressed” by the wailing of this group, both by their authentic emotions and the ones displayed as customary. He goes onto perform his greatest sing to that point. He requests to be taken to the place where Lazarus has been laid to rest, asks that the stone is moved and gives thanks to the father for listening to him. He then commands: “Lazarus, come out”, and the man comes out still wrapped with linen strips on his limbs and a cloth on his face. Neither here, nor on a gathering the following day, does Lazarus go on to say a word.

As with any Bible story, especially those in the New Testament, the layers are multiple. Lazarus’ raising, although as powerful a sign as they may come is not the main point. This is underscored by Lazarus never saying a word as his name is mentioned in the gospel. He has been raised from the death, but we know little about the depth of his faith, and this story is about faith. He has been brought back to life, but is this a new life or he just the same? This is not answered. The ones who have been transformed are the sisters and a few of the attendees. Some had believed because of the sign, some, Martha especially, believed despite of the sign. Her understanding is now complete. Though she had notions of the resurrection -the ultimate purpose of belief- she now sees that Jesus - The Messiah - is the resurrection.  Her transformation has started now, the darkness that death had brought to her eyes has been lifted and she is ready to tell, so she goes and invites her sister to come out and meet the Lord.

So these are the blessed ones, the ones not looking for signs, as they already see them all around. They are the resurrected, those who through the light of faith have come to see the resurrection in Christ and are now free from the bounds of darkness. The ones now called onto being messengers for Christ and run to tell their brothers and sisters that the “Lord is looking for you”. Resurrection is not for the final day, resurrection is now.  The transformation of the soul is one that takes a hold of the whole being of humanity, to be at ease not only on the faith of life eternal, but to seize on the energy of that light to run and tell the world that “Christ is the Life and the Resurrection, that even though we may die, we will live forever”.  Death still happens, but it is not final. Go and tell the world, help it transform. Set up the table for our God and declare that His banquet is for all!

Sing, said the Lord in my dream.

  Sing of the melody of ages.

    Sing of the word you have been given,

     The one that you received,

       even when you did not know.

     The one you were seeking to understand

For I have chosen you.

Set apart, not by your ways, which were impure

     but by my grace that extends for ever!

As darkness tends to morn

Your sight has been restored

Go and prepare a table

  for your Lord that is to come.

Psalm 18:2

" The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 

   my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. 

   He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, 

   my stronghold."

Amen.