“But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.”
This verse made me laugh. Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead, and the best threat the chief priests could come up with was to kill him again? What do you think Lazarus had to say about that? … Probably something like, “Really? … Again? … You guys understand that doesn’t scare me, right? … I’ve been there, and there, is better than here”.
The priests are clearly the ones who are fearful here ... I bet most would have rather heard Lazarus discuss the afterlife, instead of threatening him with more of it… How revealing is it that this groups ultimate threat was something that Jesus had already exhibited complete power and control over?
As I imagine Lazarus’ attitude toward their attempts to intimidate him – I am challenged by it.
Haven’t I too been released from the power of death? Hasn’t death lost its sting in my life just as it had in Lazarus’? I should be bolder, less intimidated, and less focused on the temporal, as I have already begun my eternal life… I have died and been raised to walk anew in Christ… The only thing that physical death changes now, is location.
These facts should change us. As in this passage, are we so bold that it can be said that on account of us, many are going away and believing in Jesus? If not, why not? What are we afraid of? Where is the courage we see in Lazarus after he was called out of death? Our salvation means we too have been called out of the grave to walk with Christ. Based on that, shouldn’t we be more like Lazarus when this world is threatening?
My guess is, that the day after Jesus raised him, Lazarus’ “to-do” list looked very different than it did before… His fear and anxiety about worldly issues no doubt vanished as he walked out of that tomb… Maybe we should examine what we allow to frighten us, and what we plan to invest our time in today. Let’s make sure that as people who have already been delivered from death, we are fearlessly chasing what matters.
“Living in the light of eternity changes your priorities.” - Rick Warren
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