Open and Explore the Word: Free to believe?

Open the Word

Free to believe?

Martha Jesus is on his way now. He’s coming here to Bethany, to this house, where he’s shared so much with me and Mary, and our brother Lazarus. We have him to thank for changing Mary’s life. We have so much for which to be grateful to him. He’s been a true friend. There’s been a special bond. That’s why I can’t understand why he refused to come sooner. It’s too late now. Lazarus is dead! He was seriously ill when I sent a messenger to Jesus, but Jesus said that he wouldn’t die. He said he was sick so that God’s Son could be glorified through it. What am I supposed to think now?

I hear that the disciples still aren’t keen to come. It’s because of that nastiness last time they were in Judea. Some of our people wanted to stone Jesus. They don’t like the claims he makes for himself. I believe every word he says. At least, I think I do…but he said Lazarus wouldn’t die, and he has. Did he stay away because of the threat of stoning? Then why come back now, when there’s nothing he can do? The disciples are sure they’re all walking to their deaths. What am I supposed to think?

Leader What would you think? Discuss and share your ideas.

> ALLOW TIME FOR THIS.

Now we’ll go back to Martha to hear how the story unfolds.

Martha What a day! What a joyous, miraculous day! But where were we when I left off? Oh yes. Jesus was on his way, and I didn’t know what to think. Well, when I heard that he was on the outskirts of Bethany, I felt an upsurge of faith and hope deep inside. But it contradicted my common sense. I mean, Lazarus had been dead for four days. What was I expecting Jesus to do? And I was still angry with him: puzzled; hurt. I ran to meet him, with my emotions all over the place. In almost the same breath as I rebuked him for not coming to save Lazarus’ life, I said that even now I believed that God would give him anything he asked. I don’t know what I was getting at. My brother was dead — but you can never quite believe a loved one has gone, can you? He told me Lazarus would rise again. I said I knew he would — in the resurrection on the last day. But then he said the strangest thing. He said that he is the resurrection and the life, and that nobody who believes in him will ever die. At that moment, I realised that I didn’t doubt him. I believed. Absolutely.

I ran to fetch Mary, and the other mourners followed. Mary was in a worse state than I was, if that’s possible. And she said the same thing — that Lazarus wouldn’t have died if Jesus had come sooner. She was at his feet, sobbing, and everybody was crying. It really seemed to hit Jesus then. His friend had died, and we were in agonies of grief. I’ve never seen him so affected. And he wept, just like us. Jesus wept.

Leader Can you imagine the conflicting feelings present among the characters here? Discuss them together.

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Now, we’ll hear how matters reached a dramatic climax.

Martha We took Jesus to the tomb, and he told the men to roll the stone away. I was still all over the place. I’d heard what he said about Lazarus rising, and I believed him, but I’ve always been the practical type, so I pointed out that there would be a smell. But Jesus just reminded me to believe. He prayed. Then he told Lazarus to come out!

My brother appeared at the entrance to the tomb, still wrapped in his grave clothes. He was alive! He was well and truly alive! We removed the linen strips, and he was whole, alive and free from sickness and decay! Many other mourners put their faith in Jesus after that. And for me, down to earth Martha, it was as if I had been liberated, just like my brother stepping out of the tomb. I was free to believe. Anything is possible with God!

Leader Here we can see how Martha’s practical attitude was at odds with her faith. She was finally freed to see that faith can transcend the normal conditions of life, even death itself! Let’s discuss this aspect of conflict.

> ALLOW TIME FOR THIS.

Explore the Word

How an expected event might free someone to believe.

If it is appropriate, consider stories about near-death experiences, which often seem to involve a feeling of calm and peace and even a reluctance to be drawn back to life. How might such stories relate to the experience of Lazarus?

Consider unexpected things that may have happened to us or to other people. Sometimes the weather can change unexpectedly and trap people, as when fog comes down while people are hill walking or simply you go out on a lovely sunny day without a waterproof, but the weather changes and you have to walk home in a cold downpour. A more sinister example is when the tide comes up unexpectedly (because no one checked), trapping people on a island of sand. A more urban example might be the first time you experienced the hot damp towels offered in some Indian restaurants?

Consider the unexpected in films and books, such as the ending of The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe. In traditional murder mysteries, readers are kept in suspense until the last minute when the murderer is revealed. Apparently most people who go to see the Twilight series of films already know the ending; does it matter if you know the ending before you see the film or read the book?

How does something unexpected help to reveal God to us? Could some of these feelings help us to understand how Martha and Mary might have felt?

The God we worship is so much more than we can imagine. God is not one who does what we want when we want it but rather one who loves and cares, giving us freedom; and this will involve the need to experience and observe pain and suffering. As we watch Jesus complete his journey to Jerusalem next Sunday and then follow him to the cross we will reflect on this. Sometimes we can’t put our feelings into words ourselves, and the people who do this for us are the poets. Think of Graham Kendrick’s words: ‘hands that flung stars into space to cruel nails surrendered’; or for a different flavour, Charles Wesley: ‘Our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man.’ What are your favourite words from a Passiontide hymn or song?