by As John 11 comes to a close, Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead. Many who had come from Jerusalem to mourn with Mary and Martha had witnessed the miracle in Bethany and no doubt told many others about how a man who had been in the grave four days had walked out, not even the stench of death on him.
Earlier Jesus had reassured his disciples that “this sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Is it any wonder then that the crowds would soon after this crown him King as he rode into Jerusalem?
The raising of Lazarus shone the spotlight on Jesus and his claim as God’s son, Israel’s promised king and as they would soon find out, dying king.
Many saw the miracle of Lazarus and believed in Jesus. The first response we see to the miracle is faith, belief. It is the intended though not always produced response. Are God’s mighty works in our midst drawing us and others to believe in his Son? Jesus’ fame even drew some Greeks who were in Jerusalem during the Passover and they sought to be introduced to Jesus.
Others saw the miracle and rushed with the news to the Pharisees. They knew the Pharisees would want to hear this and instead of savouring the work of God, asking themselves what it could possibly mean, or simply glorifying God, all they took away is the shock value and the newsyness of it. They were there for curiosity and gossip. How often do we have a front row seat to the Spirit’s work in a situation or someone’s life and all we have to show for it is a TikTok video and live witness account? As the Spirit of God touches others, may we not remain unchanged.
Then of course they are the cynical and hardened Pharisees who instead of being drawn to Jesus, his miracles have the opposite effect – hardening them further, blinding them, further unbelief. Does that sound familiar even today – where some leave church services even more cynical, hardened? There is a judicial blinding that happens for those who do not want to see.
The thankful
John 12 opens with Mary, Martha and Lazarus throwing what would be a thanksgiving dinner in honour of Jesus. This is the third response we see to the miracle. Thanksgiving. The family threw a party. They celebrated. Like the one Samaritan leper that went back to Jesus after he was healed, blessed are they who remember who healed them, who resurrected their dreams from the realm of the dead, who raised up dead marriages, brought back prodigals, opened wombs, provided school fees, opened job doors, made them sit with kings… and who go back to say ‘thank you’.
Many more of us need this discipline of celebration when getting married, graduating, having babies, building houses, remembering anniversaries… We can tell others what victories God has won for us with celebratory meal, cake, nyama choma, a gathering of friends or family, a toast, a thanksgiving service… The world beats us at this often.
Those who rest and worship
Lazarus, fresh from the dead, is lounging with Jesus, probably still in shock that he is alive. Would you be shocked if he kept pinching himself or exhaling to confirm that this is really happening? Lazaro is now a VIP around his hometown thanks to Jesus and just wants to hang out with the Lord. He’s had a second leash as life and he is spending as much of it with his friend. This is a perfectly good response when all we want is to be around Jesus and bask in his goodness and the glory and deliverance he has brought us. We are at a place of rest and it shows. Even radiant faces give glory to God.
On the other hand Martha has guests and so she serves. She’s making food and handing out plates, and dispatching shopping lists and tasting wine. Often we are like her. Christ has done innumerable deeds in our lives so we host Bible study and usher in church and lead in worship and go for missions and teach sunday school and clean the church and visit the sick. “I’ll be somewhere, working working somewhere; working for my Lord” is our new mantra. He has done so much for us; what can we do for him?
Meanwhile Mary is being Mary, the deep gal. Oblivious of the crowds and fanfare and harassed Martha, Mary is washing the feet of Christ but with, check this, perfume. Expensive perfume. John notes it was worth a year’s wages. Think of the mean monthly salary in your country. Multiply that by 12. Mary is giving costly worship to her Lord and friend. He raised her brother from the dead and she is being lavish, extra, in her adoration. And instead of a towel, she is wiping the feet with her hair. Did I say she is extra extra? The posture of her heart is intimate, unashamed, devoted, given out. And the whole room is filled with the fragrance of her perfume. How lavish is our worship of a king who has given everything to us? Do we realise the worth of the treasure we hold? Are we tapering our worship so we don’t look too extra, too crazy, too intimate, or so we are not criticised by Judas?
Oh yes, Judas. He notices Mary’s costly extravagant worship and complains! Sincere worship will not go unnoticed. It touches others with awe, with a softness. Our worship has an effect of drawing others in to love this saviour we love so much. But for Judas, he criticises Mary’s sacrifice. Such a waste! She’s foolish. She’s throwing away good perfume and good money and to who? Jesus? But is He not worthy of all this and more? The Magi traveled for months carrying treasure to come worship the new born King while the religious leaders were oblivious of the treasure in their backyard. Do we realise how great a salvation we have received? Do we know we have found the field with the treasure? Are we wiling to sell everything else to have this even though we will look foolish, wasteful? Judas not only fails to recognise the worth of Christ, he goes after those who have. Whatever you are giving up to serve and worship the King of kings is not a waste. Your time spent serving those God has called you to is not wasted. It bears eternal fruit.
Finally the crowds see a political king. They are looking for someone to deliver them from Rome and so they quickly herald the promised King of Israel, riding on a donkey’s colt. They are opportunists who forget to read the fineprint. They too want something from Jesus. Will he give it to them? Will they still follow him if he does not measure up to be all they want him to be? Of course many soon desert Jesus because he is not the kind of deliverer they want. What kind of saviour are you looking for? One who saves you from poverty but not your empty way of life?
There were the good responses to the miracle. Those who believed. Those who celebrated. Those who served. Those who rested in God’s providence. Then there were the bad: Judas who tries to steal the joy from other’s acts of worship, crowds that are in the presence of heaven’s jewel but all they take away is gossip; Pharisees who become hardened in unbelief. Where do we fall?
