Wednesday 01 November 2023

Psalm 24

Background

John chapter 11 documents one of the most incredible miracles of Jesus’ ministry, and the greatest of those included in this gospel. John includes seven miraculous ‘signs’ in his gospel, each one pointing us to the truth of Jesus’ identity. Each miracle is greater in scale than the previous one, so Jesus never does anything anticlimactic. Jesus first turns water into wine, then heals a person from a distance. He then heals a paralysed man and feeds five thousand people. He goes on to walk on water, then heals a man born blind, and then finally raises someone from the dead.

John wants the reader to savour every detail of the story of Jesus' final miracle, so there is a long build up from verse 1. Jesus is elsewhere when Lazarus falls sick. We get some details about Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary, so that by the time Jesus arrives at their home and we learn that Lazarus was buried four days ago, we feel something of the personal relationships between all four of these characters.

Jesus’ decision to delay coming to Bethany clearly deeply hurt both Mary and Martha. Both sisters separately issue Jesus with a stinging rebuke. Mary says “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (v. 32) Both clearly blame Jesus for the death of their brother, and they are not afraid to share their emotion with him. Jesus understand this. And Jesus can cope when we are angry or disappointed, and want to vent that anger at him. The psalms are filled with people writing out their complaints to God. It is far better to do this, and so keep talking with God, than bottle up our hurt and stop praying.

 The other fascinating thing in this passage is that we also see something of Jesus’ emotions. He openly weeps at the tomb of his friend. And he is deeply moved (many commentators would say he is angry) when he is brought face to face with the awful nature of death.

 This is why the raising of Lazarus is the climactic, seventh sign. Jesus has ultimately come so that death, the final enemy, can be destroyed forever, and so that all who believe in him can be raised back to life.

To Ponder:

• Are you upset with God about anything?
• Are you talking to God about this? If Jesus was stood in front of you, what would you want to say to him about any of the hurts or disappointments you have?
• How do you think Jesus would respond when you poured out your emotions to him?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help us to be honest with you about our struggles. May we fully share our emotions with you. And may you guide our responses. We trust in you to provide for us, and provide the miracles we need and long for. Amen.