In Mark 3:7 We find Jesus healing the multitudes with news about his miracles spreading far and wide. Jesus' healing miracles were all about His identity as the Son of God and his authority as the Son of Man from Daniel 7:14. When Lazarus had died he told His disciples that He was glad that they had not been with Lazarus, because now they would have an opportunity to further clarify their understanding of who Jesus was and believe in Him more deeply. If Jesus had been in Bethany at the time Lazarus was still sick, he would have been obligated to heal him of his illness. The fact that Lazarus was four days dead gave Jesus the opportunity to show his disciples, and everyone else there, that he was not only the light of the world, but truly the "resurrection and the life" (John 11:25, 26) Sickness is an opportunity to look to Jesus, and also an opportunity for ministry. Never will there be a more poignant time to minister to someone than when either they or their loved one is going through crisis or illness. We should be ready at all times with a mission of healing for people, through our prayers and through our presence to show them we care.
All the more profound is the healing of the sinner whose life is in shambles, who is discouraged, who has thrown in the towel - the church should be a place of healing and restoration for those at the end of themselves. Just as people flocked to Jesus for healing, people cannot help but be drawn to a church where members are loving one another and serving the world in love. The challenge we face is raising our level of awareness so as not to let those opportunities slip by. Pray with people immediately if they ask for prayer. Try not to worry about your agenda if you run into someone who needs your listening ear, your prayer, and to know that someone cares.
As we've discussed previously, Jesus chose His disciples strategically through the fishing business, through familial relationships, and through friendships. Even before calling Peter & Andrew he was preaching from their boats on the shore of Galilee, developing those friendships with them. James and John also threw their fishing nets alongside Peter and Andrew. They all lived in Capernaum. Andrew had a friend named Phillip from their hometown of Bethsaida and Phillip brought his friend Nathaniel into the group. The disciples had to learn humility and forgiveness as the Lord called Matthew the tax collector to follow. Matthew's little brother, James, also became a follower of Jesus. We need to learn to network relationships like Jesus did to make disciples, and then learn to forgive and love the former "tax collectors" among us and work together for the kingdom.
We made note last Saturday that these were ordinary men from ordinary backgrounds. What made them different was that they were willing to follow Jesus to the end. And indeed they did - only John died a natural death of old age after his imprisonment on Patmos. The other disciples followed Jesus to their martyrdom, most in horrific ways. It is encouraging to know, then, that the power is in the message, not in the messenger. We are right to admire the disciples, certainly, but it is the power of the Gospel and Jesus' living presence with us today that will empower us to change the lives of people and impact our world. We are thankful that Jesus saw the disciples as what they could be rather than what they were - he saw their potential.
We also mentioned that Jesus raised the status of women in His ministry, having many women followers among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the less, Joanna, Salome the mother of James and John, and Mary and Martha of Bethany. These courageous women followed Jesus and helped to support his ministry. Along with John, they were the only disciples of Jesus to remain at the cross until Jesus' death. They were the first evangelists to tell the good news that Jesus had been raised from the dead, that they had seen Him, and Jesus would meet them in Galilee.
Well said. However, I was hoping you could elaborate on the following statement. "When Lazarus had died he told His disciples that He was glad that they had not been with Lazarus, because now they would have an opportunity to further clarify their understanding of who Jesus was and believe in Him more deeply (May, 2011).
ReplyDeleteGood to talk to you earlier. Tell Alix that Karla and me said hello. We hope all is well with your whole family.
Great catching up with you too - we miss you guys! If Jesus had been in Bethany at the time Lazarus was still sick, he would have been obligated to heal him of his illness. The fact that Lazarus was four days dead gave Jesus the opportunity to show his disciples, and everyone else there, that he was not only the light of the world, but truly the "resurrection and the life".
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