A Year Later

It’s still crazy to think that a year ago today something totally earth shattering happened in my life that I would never have expected. It would have never crossed my mind. I didn’t see it coming. A lot has happened since then. Another year of school. Classes. New challenges. New struggles. New friendships. And I still don’t always understand why we go through certain things. I ask why Lord either in prayer or implicitly. Why?

I’ve been reading through the Gospel of John and specifically chapter 11 which talks about the raising of Lazarus. Usually what I’ve been drawn to is this passage is the fact that Jesus is deeply troubled. He weeps because all is not right with the world. However, death will not have the final say. That’s powerful stuff.

But I realized in looking at this passage, the reactions of the other players. The disciples, like us so often, seem like they’re on a different wavelength entirely. First, they’re concerned about safety (which I would be too) and then when Christ says Lazarus is sleeping they take him literally. They just don’t seem to get it (like we often don’t get it). And yet if you watch Jesus He works through the circumstances despite what they think or know. Christ says that he does it so they might believe and ultimately we can guess that it did have an effect on them, because they saw him working.

There’s also the reaction of Mary who has complete faith that if Jesus had  been around, her brother would have been saved. There’s faith but also probably regret and some bitterness. And yet she willingly takes Jesus to the place Lazarus died, and this whole scenario deeply moves Jesus. He can see the anguish in Mary.

The most troubling response though is probably from the Jews or those in the community. Some see how much Jesus loved Lazarus and are moved. But some of the more cynical ones question his actions and his omnipotence. Why didn’t he do anything about this or that? I have that same response often.

As we see He obviously silences them with his response and it’s something to ponder. God is hardly ever silent. Sometimes we just aren’t on the same wavelength and we cannot understand. But often out of the ashes beauty can and will rise. I cling to the words that He is the Resurrection and the life and whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. That is good news!

All the Glory to Him.