BETHANY - the Raising of Lazarus from the dead

   

Bethany Church

The Tomb of Lazarus

                                                                                  Inside the Church

THE RAISING OF LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD

The motif of Light and Dark in Gospel of St John in chapters 8 and 9 continue here. This Gospel is linked with Gospel of the Man Born Blind since 1. The purpose in each was to glorify God 2. There would be an increase in conflict with the Jewish authorities.  All ‘ signs ‘ ( St John speaks often of signs ) were revelations of who Jesus is and what He offers – from the first sign in Cana. Here is the final sign. Signs are more than wonderful deeds by the Lord but are signs.           Jesus offers Life. Interesting that Jesus offers Lazarus life but that means that Jesus shall die – only to offer all eternal life.  Lazarus means ‘ God has helped’. Often in Hebrew as Eleazar.  This chapter is solidly true – that is why we know the name of the man ( Lazarus ) and his sister’s names and the exact name of the town. It is in Bethany near Jerusalem , not the Bethany beyond the Jordan where John was baptizing John 1:28. In modern day Israel there is a large security wall around Bethany ( see below ) – ironic that it is here that Jesus frees . Bethany means ‘House of Obedience’ – again a perfect place for this last miracle.   

The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, saying,  “Master, the one you love is ill.”
When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death,
but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

The sisters of Lazarus are Martha and Mary – the same ones as the busy Martha and the listening Mary. Mary also was the one to anoint Jesus six days before Passover, just before Palm Sunday when Jesus made His last visit to their home. This was the anointing to which Judas criticized her. John 12  Only this family and the Beloved Disciple ( John ) are mentioned in the Bible as ones loved by Jesus.

Note the sister’s request – they only tell Jesus that Lazarus is ill; the do not tell Jesus what to do. This is similar to Wedding of Cana when Mary told Jesus the situation but did not tell Him what to do.  Intercede with humility versus telling God what to do *** At Cana the hour was not yet and was far off  but now the hour is fast approaching.

Note – this is for 1. The glory of God so that , next 2. The Son of God may be glorified.         The Father is the source of all life & the Son is glorified as the One who acts in obedience  and thus shares in the Father as source of life 

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was.
Then after this he said to his disciples,  “Let us go back to Judea.”

Jesus delayed in going. At Cana He delayed the miracle but here He delayed it even longer –  this could have been an even greater scandal but in fact was to be the greater glory.    

Greater things are for those who await ***  There is also the Jewish thought that the soul stayed on for four days. In thus waiting there would be no question that Lazarus was dead and rose.  Jesus knew that He was going to risk His life in going in public in Judea.                  

 But there is no real danger for He is under the Father’s Will and protection. 

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.                                                                 

Again the mention of the four days. Martha goes out. Again Martha is the one who is anxious  and cannot sit by the tomb as Mary did.

Martha said to Jesus,  “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”

Why does Martha say this ? Maybe 1. She rebukes Jesus – it is a human reaction. Where are you God ? ***   Here she sees Jesus only as an intermediary to God. That is why she says – what you ask of God. But here before her is God Himself.  OR 2. Martha’s faith had to grow more. Like the woman at the well she did not fully understand. OR 3. It is a Lament – I believe that you could have healed him and now I am in pain and laments **

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.”
Martha said, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”

Martha’s answer here is quick and assured but this Resurrection that she speaks of is the Jewish believe of  many that he will rise on the Last Day . She does not make the statement of Lazarus’ rising here and now

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus’ reply, as in the previous chapter 10 I am the Gate / I am the Good Shepherd.                  This is the same great I AM , that is God.  This I AM is two parts – resurrection and life.  Jesus gives Lazarus and us both – life  and also resurrection.  Both go together for a believer never dies – for one who is saved life is a continuum. Thus Jesus does not say I am Life and then I am later Resurrection. But rather we are on earth I our life and then continues our life in the resurrection.    I AM also means to be IN Jesus. It is not His actions that give us Life but to be IN Him – I AM – that communion with His means Life !

Jesus then asks her this question, as He asks us, *** to give her ( and us ) an opportunity to make a profession of faith. Jesus also did this with the Blind Man.    

She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world.”

It is interesting to note that Martha does not just answer Jesus with the same Q and A by saying – yes You are the Resurrection and the Life. But her answer is quite different – Christ and Son of God. This is her profession of Jesus’ Mission and His Nature. If He is the Life and Resurrection then she states - Your mission is that of Christ ( The Anointed One ) and nature is that of Son of God; He who took on flesh in this world.      

He became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?”
They said to him, “Sir, come and see.”                                                                                 

And Jesus wept.

          Jesus as perturbed / deeply troubled / weeps : There are many writings of above.                      

          Jesus is perturbed by death. He rebukes death and is angered by it. Weeps – He does not wail    

          ( klaio ) but weeps or sheds tears ( dakryo). Like St Paul would say later – do not grieve like  

            the rest of humanity who have no hope 1 Thess 4:13

St John Chrysostom says ~ “ He wept over Lazarus. So should you: weep, but gently, but with decency, but with the fear of God. If you weep thus, you do so not as disbelieving the resurrection, but as not enduring the separation. Since even over those who are leaving us, and departing to foreign lands, we weep, yet we do this not as despairing. “  

So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”
But some of them said,  “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man
have done something so that this man would not have died?”

This statement above is not so much a matter of disbelief but rather – Jesus cured the Blind Man – He can do that. He seemed to be Lord of Creation. Now they are puzzled – can He not then also go this ? 

So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb.
It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, 

“Lord, by now there will be a stench;  he has been dead for four days.” 

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone.

The Gospel does not hesitate to mention that AGAIN Jesus is moved.                  

 Martha’s objection due to the smell heightens the greatness of this miracle and sign.               Jesus is about to raise one who is decayed ! But when raised Lazarus shall be fully restored. This will glory God.  Jesus calls THEM to take the stone away – their responsibility. He could have done it through a miracle. We are to remove the stones from our hearts and one another. Not only that but sin STINKS ! There are such situations.  

And Jesus raised his eyes and said,  “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.

Three important points above 1. Jesus raises His eyes – it is a gesture of looking away from oneself and toward God 2. He names God as Father – there is a true intimacy here. This now is the Name Jesus calls. 3. There is actually not a petition ( Father make Lazarus live ) but His prayer is rather a prayer of thanksgiving.  I thank you Father.   4. Jesus is certain He is heard. He has utter confidence.  5. Jesus prayer works – Lazarus arises and many believe. 

Awesome -  what about us and our prayer to God ? Do we do the above as the Lord did ?  ******

And when he had said this, He cried out in a loud voice,   “Lazarus, come out!”

Jesus cries out as one summon a soul from a far.   He calls Lazarus by name.                    God’s Voice is effective – from creation to the End of the World. This is His proclamation       to all the faithful deceased – arise ! Come out ! We hope to hear this, our name called at the Judgement Day. 

The dead man came out, 

tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth.
So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

This is the second loud command of Jesus. Again it is now your responsibility to free Lazarus. Also through this the people truly witness the miracle – they touch Lazarus.    Also there is a kind of spiritual unbinding – remember Jesus uses these words in establishing the Sacrament of Reconciliation ( Confession ) where He promised the Apostles that He would bind and loose people’s sins.

  

Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary
and seen what he had done began to believe in him.

But then verse 46 follows – but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.                   The hour has come !

QUESTIONS

1.       What does it mean that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life ?

2.       What does it mean that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ?

3.       Can you think of a situation where you saw an unbinding ?

4.       As noted above :        Three important points above 1. Jesus raises His eyes – it is a gesture of looking away from oneself and toward God 2. He names God as Father – there is a true intimacy here. This now is the Name Jesus calls.  3. There is actually not a petition ( Father make Lazarus live ) but His prayer is rather a prayer of thanksgiving.  I thank you Father.   4. Jesus is certain He is heard. He has utter confidence.  5. Jesus prayer works – Lazarus arises and many believe. 

Awesome -  what about us and our prayer to God ? Do we do the above as the Lord did ?

5.       If you had to name a Homily for the preaching of this Gospel what would it be ?

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT 

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL 

THE BACKGROUND OF SAMARIA

Under the rule of King Solomon’s son Rehoboam the kingdom of the Hebrew people was divided in half. See 1 Kings 12.  In the north in 900 B.C.  a rebel named Jeroboam broke from the nation ruled by Rehoboam, establishing the northern kingdom of Israel with 10 of the tribes The ten tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel are: Asher, Dan, Gad, Issachar, Joseph [2 tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh], Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun. The two tribes of the southern kingdom of Judah are: Judah and Benjamin. Note that Levi is not included because they had no set territory but cities of the Levites were scattered throughout the 12 tribes. Jeroboam would go on to establish their own place of worship versus Jerusalem in Bethel 1Kings12:25 – 33. The Assyrians in 721 B.C. would defeat the nation and take them into slavery. Whilst away the pagan rulers would fill the land with heathens. When the Hebrew people returned they would intermarry in the northern kingdom – Jew with heathen. Thus they were neither one nor the other- Jew nor pagan. For the ‘pure’ Jewish people of the south kingdom this represented why they hated the Samaritans so such – idolatry and schism. *** Even when they returned to the south kingdom in 538 B.C. and built the Temple in Jerusalem they refused to allow the Samaritans to participate in any way.  Ezra 4:2  Ezra 9 and 10  Nehemiah 13 . And so in 400 B.C. the Samaritans built their own Temple on Mount Gerizim.  The Samaritans believed that the Patriarchs at one time worshipped here.  See 1 Kings 16:24 – 24. It was destroyed in the 2^nd century B.C. Thus Samaritans were not pure bloods, they had history of idolatry, schismatic, and although the believed in the God of Israel they for example only accepted the first 5 books of the Law, and no prophetic books etc. To touch them, to even travel in their land made a true believer impure. This is the context of this Samaritan Woman at the Well whom Jesus leads to faith and witness.  

John 4:3 Jesus left Judea and started back to Galilee. 4 But he had to go through Samaria. It appears that often enough even Jesus would have gone around the region of Samaria so as not to become impure. But this time he “ had to “ – meaning that either he had no choice geographically or rather He had no choice – He had to do this work of this day      

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.  Jacob’s well was there. Syhcar or Sichem was the capital city of Samaria Genesis 34.  This land was given to Jacob            ( Israel ) gave to his son Joseph. Genesis 36. Note that the Samaritans believed only the Patriarchs and thus the root of Abraham etc. All things of the Patriarchs were leading to Jesus Christ. This is the moment when Jacob’s Well takes on its true importance.  

Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.  It was about noon. The Gospel of John thus far identified the divinity of Jesus but here He is tired – a human feeling. And yet even feeling tired He did not shrink from His mission. Even at noon day He is not wearied or complaining of the hot sun ** She is there at noon time- the hottest part of the day. Why ? She is a woman, a Samaritan, lower class ( servants did this job) and has had 5 husbands and living now with one. Thus the only time to go to the well is noon. Her sins are very apparent to all – there is no hiding them.   

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans. Through the Gospel we do not know her name but each time we see her title – Samaritan woman, thus her religious state is all important. This is one of the longest recorded conversations that Jesus has with some-one – it must be all important ! The conversation is so intense that  He actually never does get the cup of water !                                                                                                              Jesus thirsts for water at noon day but he also thirsts for the salvation for all – on the cross - ‘ I thirst ’.   Jesus interacts with her while no-one else will. Note how this dialogue goes – what can I learn from it ? There is common ground between the Jews and the Samaritans and Jesus uses this in dialogue. His teaching starts here. See how He does it.   She is here below shown that she is ignorant of a. who Jesus is AND b. what He offers ( life-giving water ) 

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God  and     who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?”

The well is 100 feet deep and is spring fed. She is proud of the well and her Samaritan history. Deep – faith is deep. You must lower the net within deeply.  Note that now Jesus does not directly answer her – He could have said straight out – I am the Messiah, I am greater than Jacob etc but now see how Jesus continues the dialogue ~ ( He often uses this teaching method eh ) Note that her title for Jesus thus far is – “sir”.  

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; ( meaning – yes – I am greater than Jacob and you agree right that you will get thirsty again )   but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”  She starts to understand – it takes patience to bring about faith **

Conversation regarding her 5 husbands now takes place.  Her title below for Jesus is now “Prophet” Ironically she thinks that Jesus is prophet as to her husbands but actually He is prophet as to the future of faith in the world.    

“I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”

This refers to the two places of worship in our introduction.  As she poses this statement to Jesus is as if to test him – if you are a prophet then solve this puzzle. She expects Him to say you must worship in Jerusalem only. But Jesus says – the following – either one is going to be correct. He will then unite the Jews and the Samaritans as He unites Jew and Gentiles; free and slave; men and women.  

Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews.

     The Samaritans sought to worship God without the Jewish lineage of faith and worship. This is also not correct.  

But the hour is coming, ( this is a common phrase in Gospel of St John ) and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

Worship God in Spirit ( spiritually ) and truth. This is a ‘third’ kind of worship. One was on mount of Jerusalem; second one on mount of Gerizim; but now third one is in spirit and truth .

The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.”

She says that I shall know the Messiah because he will clarify all things to me and us … guess what .. that is what Jesus is doing. See how He teaches and leads her on her own fruition.                                                                                                  Jesus said to her,  “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.”                                  I AM – the Name of God. Now she is ready for faith.  

27 Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?”

First notice the timing – they arrive now , when the dialogue is complete and she now believes – how beautiful the timing of God.  They are astonished – do THEY get this mission of Jesus ? Do they know how to evangelize? Do they know how to treat people ? **

The Samaritan woman leaves the water jar and goes to the town – come follow me - leave everything and follow me.  Because of her testimony many believe in Jesus.  And remember she was the shun of the town! They a. believe in Him b. come to Him c. invite Him to stay.  This is the process of belief.  

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to     believe    in him. When the Samaritans    came to him,    they invited him to     stay    with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

Compare Nicodemus – chapter 4 - with the Woman at the Well chapter 5 .               N does not move ahead – does not believe – is by night – tells no one until after Jesus’ death when he helps at the cross.  

SHE MET

SHE LEARNT

SHE CAME TO BELIEVE

SHE WANT TO TELL OTHERS

 QUESTIONS

1.    What if true worship in spirit and truth ?

2.    What does the ‘ teaching method’ of Jesus tell us ?  How have you tried to evangelize ? Is it tiring ( like Jesus was tired )  Filled with patience?

3.    The Woman at the Well was the last one we may think to spread the faith. Do you know of a person who is a surprising source of faith ?

4.    No sin can keep us apart from Jesus – even 5 marriages and now living common law. Comments please.

5.    HOMILY TITLE