Facing the uncomfortable people
by Maria Rudolph
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Anyone who walks in the day-time will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light (John 11:9b,10).
Read John 11:1–45
The gospel writer John recounts the resurrection of Lazarus in fascinating detail and with emotional suspense. Even Jesus wept (John 11:35). But this story actually begins with an anticlimax: the big reveal right at the start. Jesus said, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up’ (John 11:11).
Jesus knew all along what was going to happen! And even though Jesus had a special friendship with the siblings Lazarus, Martha and Mary, there was a much greater purpose behind this resurrection story, revealed when Jesus prayed to God, ‘I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me’ (John 11:42).
Only a little earlier, Jesus had stood in the temple courts in Jerusalem, not far from the village of Bethany, where Lazarus lived, and had taught: ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand’ (John 10:27,28).
This didn’t go down so well. The crowd didn’t understand what Jesus was talking about and nearly stoned him that day. But Jesus didn’t give up on them. ‘The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost’ (Luke 19:10).
So off Jesus goes, back into uncomfortable territory, to the awkward and unpredictable people. Going after the lost to bring the good news requires the same of us. Sharing our faith from the Bible can seem as crazy to others as raising a person from the dead – a downright fairytale. But we have the Spirit of Jesus with us at all times. We do not need to face the uncomfortable people on our own. We have the ‘I AM the resurrection and the life’ (John 11:25) with us.
Great God, you are the resurrection, you are the life. When we believe in you, we will live forever, even when we die. Send us your Holy Spirit so we can trust in your word and live according to it. Make us bold to share this good news with people who do not yet know it. Give us courage when it gets uncomfortable. And help us put our hope in you alone when we face the final hour of our own earthly life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Maria serves at St John’s Lutheran Church in Perth, Western Australia. She is blessed with her pastor husband, Michael, who serves at Concordia Lutheran Church, Duncraig. With God’s help, they navigate ministry across two parishes and life at home with two beautiful high schoolers and one amazing boy in primary school. Pastor Maria also serves the Lutheran Church on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
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