Come Awake

My dear friend Bill Bagwell sent me this picture of "Jesus Dancing with Lazarus" a year ago. It's a great image, and with the combination of the story of Lazarus and watching Wild, I've been reflecting on my own story. 

Do you remember the story of Jesus and Lazarus? It's found in John 11. Martha and Mary came to Jesus, asking for help because "the one Jesus loved" was dying. Jesus's response is touching, but his actions questionable? "When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” Jesus waited two days to go to Bethany to heal Lazarus. TWO DAYS!

Martha and Mary were pretty upset when Jesus finally arrived, as I probably would be too. They "knew" Laz would rise at the resurrection, but that wasn't good enough, they were disappointed, hurt, and angry.

In their grief, Jesus shows compassion on Lazarus and his sisters. Laz had been dead in the tomb for 4 days and Martha in her frustration explains to him how death works, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Can you hear her sass? I’ve also related to Martha and her sass (if you know me, you know this sass well). And Jesus in his truth with love explains, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” and with authority he says, "Lazarus, get up, take off your grave clothes and move." 

Have you ever been Lazarus? Or Martha? Or Mary? Have you ever felt like you are waiting for something to happen? Maybe it's physical healing for you or someone else? Emotional healing? Maybe you have no idea what you are waiting for, but you're just....waiting?

Sometimes we are waiting. And during the wait we feel far from everything, far from healing, peace, callings…God. And sometimes Jesus is waiting too. Which seems weird and counterproductive, but He is waiting with a plan so that He can reveal something even greater than what our earthly minds can fathom. There is a hope in our waiting and our grief.  

Waiting in the mire isn't fun, but as we groan everyday, we grow everyday. I have hope for us, for I know when this waiting season is over Jesus is going to say, "Get up! Take off those grave clothes! And go!" And we will go,  as more mature healing hearts. We will go forward with abandonment, because we are following the voice that calls us from the dead. Lazarus could not have been the same person after this, and neither will we. Maybe you're coming out of the waiting, maybe that moment is just around the corner, or maybe it’s in the distance, but until that day, let's sit, wait, listen, and watch. 

Like Martha and Mary, I believe that Jesus is who He says He is and can do what He promises He will do. So what are you sitting in, waiting on, coming out of? Whatever it is. You're not alone and you are not stuck, just waiting.

Have hope. Be changed. Move forward.

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 

Ezekiel 36:26

Sarah