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Salvation in the springSaturday, April 4, 2009
John 11:41-56 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go" ... Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin ... from that day on they plotted to take his life. So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.
Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn't he coming to the Feast at all?"
Jesus heals people. He brings his friend Lazarus back to life after three days dead in the grave. He preaches love and practices love and everyone loves him. Well, not everyone. Not everyone loves him because he calls attention to their lack of love. Jesus can only do that because he sets such a high standard. No one ever experienced love like that. Heaven came down and glory filled their souls. Jesus and his Father walked the paths of Galilee to heal and teach and bring peace. Peace, not war. Oh, what a shame to miss that, to be caught in theology and dogma and (mostly) pride, and miss the love. Jesus wept for those men, unable to grasp the green shoots of heaven when they sprouted right in front of them. How would they ever know their Father when the grass turned brown? He weeps for me at times, I'm sure. Jesus wipes salve on my fallen nature, saves me from myself and the Prince of the world, rescues my perishing ... and he weeps when I just don't grab the green. Salvation is in the details, between the sermons and the prayers and the protestations of faith. It comes at 3 a.m. when I wake up and notice my thoughts screaming out of control into anxiety. It makes all things new every morning, when I feel dread or exhaustion or boredom. It waits on me in the afternoon, when I get to choose how to spend my time. Jesus cries, "Come forth!" It's up to me to get off my grave and walk outside. You walk into Jerusalem, Jesus, with a price on your head. The crowds cry "Hosanna!" Your disciples are wary. And all you see are the people who need you. Your love is amazing. |
Oh, yes, Jesus is coming. But not like the priests seem to think he will. They are afraid Jesus will inspire the crowds to stand up and fight, and then the Romans will massacre them all. They think only in terms of politics and power. Jesus has another role to play.