The Players

The story of Lazarus is told in John 11, and you probably know it well.  Lazarus died and Jesus raised him from the dead.  But there are other people in the story that interest me.

The sisters of Lazarus: They sent word to Jesus telling him their brother was sick.

The disciples: When Jesus wanted to go to the town where Lazarus was, they remembered it was in that very city people wanted to stone Jesus, so they didn’t understand why Jesus would want to return. And when Jesus told them Lazarus was “asleep” they didn’t understand why Jesus was needed.

Thomas: He answered quickly to all and said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” And yet this is the same man who doubted Jesus after his death and resurrection!

Martha: The first sister who greeted Jesus, a bit disappointed in his late appearance, but totally confident in His love and ability to take care of things.

Mary: The second sister, who too is disappointed in his late appearance.

The Jews: They notice Jesus’ great love and wonder why he didn’t “keep him from dying” in the first place.

Lazarus: The dead man who received life again.

All of these players demonstrate each of us when tragedy strikes.  Some of us just don’t understand what God is doing, others react full of faith in the moment, and then those of us in the story in the middle of the tragedy get hurt at Jesus for his apparent lack of concern and timing.  Then of course, I often fall into the latter category of questioning why the tragedy happened at all, and why He didn’t stop it before it occurred.

But then there’s Lazarus, the recipient of new life.  And Jesus, the one who gave new life.

Jesus and his abilities, concern, and power should never be an issue….nor his timing.  Nothing is impossible to those who believe.