Daily Lectionary for September 9, 2010
Psalm 28
Job 29:1, 31:1-23
Acts 15:1-11
John 11:17-29
John 11:17-29
The Lazarus story continues. Jesus is greeted by Mary and Martha. Which must have been awkward. Mary and Martha are both thinking what ultimately gets verbalized - if Jesus had been there Lazaurs would not have died. Jesus says, "Your brother will rise again." Martha responds appropriately, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection of the last day." Which Jesus may have meant, but he meant something more immediate as well it will turn out and that is important. The promises of faith are indeed for the future. But they are not simply nice promises for a future beyond our lifetime, rendering this lifetime something we try our best to make the best of and endure. Jesus says to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" It is important how we understand and how we answer the question. Assent to Jesus' question is only to receive the promise of the eventual arrival of God's kingdom. Assent - that is belief - is to receive a new way of life right now. Yes there is life eternal with God in the days beyond these days, but in these days there are amazing things for the people of God. Lazarus will come forth - the dead will rise. Are we treating faith like a life insurance policy that becomes relevant in the next life or are we catching the full import of Christ's words and actions and understanding that Jesus' "I am the resurrection and the life" changes everything right now as well.
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