Author: Wick

In reading the story of Lazarus, we find an interesting word. The word is found in John chapter 11, verse 33, and stood out to me this past Sunday. According to the NRSV, the word is translated “enebrimhsato”, which means Jesus “was deeply moved”.

It stood out to me, simply as an example of Jesus feeling an emotion. Not just any emotion, one strong enough to be “deeply moved”, using a word hardly used anywhere else in the New Testament. Most of the time, when these words are pointed out, it’s someone extending the illustration of how much Jesus must have loved Lazarus, etc.

I like that side of the coin. Obviously Jesus cared about Lazarus, and these women knew there was a relationship between them. There is a great illustration here of Jesus Christ being human, and experiencing a life such as ours.

But it also seems like there is a frustration/emotion here that focuses on the lack of faith in the Jews he was close to in these scenes. The word here meaning “was deeply moved” comes from a root word “brimaomai” which means “to snort with anger”. This was not a sadness for the loss of his friend, this was a frustration with the unbelief of those who should be the first to believe.

This understanding, however, would also change the meaning of the verses that follow. “Jesus wept.” would be another sign of his immense sadness for the unbelief of those closest to him. “See how he loved him.” would be the Jews continuing to miss the reason for Jesus’ sadness, blind to their own unbelief and the grief it caused Jesus.

Which opens up yet another new word that can come from this story. That we followers of Christ are quick to point out things that may grieve the Spirit of Christ, as long as it’s something other than ourselves. May we each spend some time reflecting on what in our own life may be the “unbelief” that could cause Christ to “snort with anger”, and shed tears on our behalf….

It’s always pretty cool when you hear a new message coming from a story you’ve heard a thousand billion times. These thoughts are stolen from Pastor G’s message yesterday. I liked ’em.

In biblical Judaism, there were laws and customs on every area of life. How to make sacrifices. How to build altars. How to keep “clean” in pretty much any given realm of their daily living. But there was an area that hadn’t been covered. Well, many areas probably, all surrounding a response to exactly what God was accomplishing through Jesus Christ.

But specifically here in John chapter 11, “How should a faithful Jew respond when someone once dead has become living again?”

Everyone knew to touch a dead person was unclean. To touch a sick person was unclean. So what of this man Lazarus, who was coming out from the grave as alive again? (it seems a different type of “resurrection” than Christ, but that’s another blog) Should they go near him?

Jesus gives clear instructions to those around them, and they seem to be followed:

Yesterday’s post ended with a phrase that made me want to share a few thoughts from Youth Group Wednesday night. “Oh, youth group”, you’re thinking. “Don’t have sex, listen to your parents, and do good in school, etc.”, you might summarize what I’m about to say.

You’d be more than slightly wrong.

Wednesday we talked about our identities as NEW CREATION. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We talked about how this is more than simply something God wants to do because it’s nice and creative. In Revelation, the book that reveals God’s desire/plan through Jesus Christ for all creation, verse 21:5 shows us a God who’s pretty excited/giddy about what’s going on. He points at what is happening and says “LOOK!! I’m making all things new!!”

We talked about our identity’s as new creations, and how God is pointing at us, and telling all of creation “LOOK!! THAT is what I’m wanting to do with ALL things!”

I think I like the concept of “Saints” found in the Church…as long as we keep a healthy relationship to them. I think of people like John Wesley, BT Roberts, John Mason, and many others. Imperfect people, sure, but people that I think we could point to and say “LOOK! That is what God is wanting to do with all of creation!” Today, we honor those who have gone before us. Those saints. Those who God continues to remind us of, as embodying something incredibly close to what He’s accomplishing throughout all things.

That’s powerful. And not He-man powerful. Caputo powerful.

Infinitely compelling. I desire to live a life that, when I’m alive even would be nice, others and perhaps even God might point at once in a while and say “LOOK! That’s what I’m doing in all things!” Guess I’d better get goin…