Sunday 09 March 2008

Background

As we approach Easter with all its passion, death andresurrection we meet with the ultimate challenge - that ofovercoming death. In this story, Mary and Martha are challenged tolook more closely at their belief in Jesus as the resurrection andthe life (verse 25).

Much challenges me about this story but I have always wondered whyJesus wept? He knew that his friend Lazarus would live and thatGod's glory would be seen with the outcome of this miracle (verse4). Jesus knew that through his own life and work the conventionalboundaries between death and life, dishonour and honour,crucifixion and glory would be redefined. But still he waited a fewdays before travelling to see his friends.

According to Jewish tradition, the soul lingered around the corpseof a dead person for three days before its final departure. SoJesus waited two more days so that there would be no question atall about the reality of Lazarus' death. The resurrection performedby Jesus then would have had a much greater impact on people andwould bring greater glory to God than the healing of anillness.

But when he saw Mary and the others weeping he was "greatlydisturbed in spirit and deeply moved" (verse 33). Recentcommentators suggest that the emotion Jesus was exhibiting here wasnot simply sadness, grief and empathy with Mary and the crowd ofmourners, but rather anger. Jesus was angry because of what sin anddeath have done to humanity. Thus the anger is not directed atanyone in particular but at the condition of humanity living underthe reign of death.

To Ponder

Why do you think Jesus wept?

We often think that anger is an emotion thatshould be avoided, but it seems that some things are worth gettingangry about. What aspects of life lead you to be "greatly disturbedin spirit and deeply moved"?

In what ways are you able to express your angerthat will be helpful to yourself and to others?