Practicing Belief

Summary

This week we will hear the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. This is Jesus’ final and most significant sign, the one that ultimately leads the authorities to plot to kill him. But in the story, much less time is spent on Jesus’ interactions with Lazarus than those with his disciples, Martha, and Mary. At face value, it would seem that the problem here is Lazarus’ illness and death. But a closer reading reveals a theme of belief and unbelief, or trust in Jesus and lack of trust. I think we can identify with Martha who struggles to maintain belief or to fully understand what Jesus is up to in the face of loss, death, and the realities around her. We may say, “Lord, if you had been here…” Or “Couldn’t Jesus have kept this from happening?” We may ask, “Where is God in this?” Or “How can God let this happen?” Jesus says to Martha, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (v 40) It seems that this concept of belief is central here, and might be both the problem and the solution. But that word is also laden. We will explore together nuances, stances, and practices of belief, as well as ways to interpret this word and how it has been (mis?)understood in our culture. And we will explore the power of our belief or trust in God, the force of love and life and resurrection, for such a time as this. Like Mary and Martha, how might our own weeping, lament, and also trust and hope be faithful responses to what we see and experience in the world around us? How does our trust in Jesus, the presence of God with us in life and after death, empower us to respond and live into our call when things get tough? In today’s story and the upcoming journey to the cross, we see God actively participating and even suffering in the name of resurrection. And we can see over history how God has carried the people through in hope before. May that be testimony to God’s faithfulness when we might wonder whether Jesus will show up at all.