“Greatly Disturbed” (John 11:1-45)

John 11:1-45

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“Greatly Disturbed,” John 11:1-45

Pastor Tom Johnson, March 29, 2020

The account Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is about grief. It’s about Jesus and his disciples’ struggle with death. It is less about Lazarus coming to life again. It more about how Jesus leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus intentionally delays going to Lazarus who is very ill. Jesus says his illness will not lead to death but the glory of God and the Son of God. Jesus says Lazarus has fallen asleep. Jesus is not talking about death euphemistically. We have his assurance that when we die, we fall asleep in the cradle of God’s love and immediately wake up in the arms of our heavenly Father. Jesus tells his disciples that he is glad he was not there when Lazarus died, so that we may believe. He wants to strengthen our faith and trust in God. Jesus wants to show us what faith looks like in the middle of the storm of grief.

Martha is in shock. She is struggling with the reality of her brother’s death. She tells Jesus, “If you had been here, he would not have died.” Jesus says, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha says her hope is in the future resurrection. Jesus wants her to experience the power of the resurrection now. “I am the resurrection and the life—those who trust in me will live even though they die.” Mary comes to Jesus and says the same thing as her sister” If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” But this time, Jesus does not teach and lead with words. What happens next is truly remarkable. He leads with empathy.

Jesus leads with emotional vulnerability. When he sees Mary, her family, and friends all weeping, he is “greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.” These words describe Jesus’ anger and deep emotional agitation. Jesus is fully human. Jesus’ anger—his righteous indignation—is not directed toward Martha, Mary, or those who are grieving. Jesus is furious with the tragedy and misery of death itself. Jesus just said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” Death is antithetical to his mission. And his fury and contempt is for evil and sin that rob us of life and living.

Yesterday, New York State Governor Cuomo was speaking to his national guard and expressed his rage that which seeks to consume life. “I say, my friends, that we go out there today and we kick coronavirus [in the teeth], that’s what I say.” This is all part of the package of grief and our struggle.

Jesus is “deeply moved.” In John’s Gospel, these words first describe the pool of Siloam whose waters were stirred up and agitated but were believed to have healing powers (John 5:7). Jesus emotions will be agitated again later in John’s Gospel when is troubled by the prospects of his arrest and crucifixion. And yet, despite his feelings of anguish, he reaffirms his mission to confront evil, sin, and death on the Cross (John 12:27). Jesus will be deeply moved and troubled again by the betrayal of his friend, companion, and disciple Judas (John 13:21). And then with those same words, Jesus will comfort us with those familiar words of John 14 (vv. 1-3):

Do not let your hearts be troubled—do not be overcome by anxiety, distress, or a distrubed spirit. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Lazarus’ death grieves Jesus—even though he knows what he is about to do. Jesus allows himself to feel and express his grief through anger and agitation. And then Jesus begins to weep himself. He is joining his tears to the tears of those whom he loves. He is not weeping over Lazarus. His sadness for those who suffer loss. Jesus outpouring of emotion is a song without words. He validates the full range of grief that we go through as humanity. Just as we look at tragedy unfolding around us and feel shock, sadness, distress, anxiety, guilt, anger, denial, hope, and acceptance. Jesus leads the way so that we will have confidence to follow.

Scripture says we have a high priest that meets us in our grief. “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with us” (Heb 4:14-16). He is the incarnational God and friend of humanity who empathizes with us. Peter encourages us to pour out emotions upon God in prayer—to cast all our cares upon him—every worry, our disgust, our rage, our guilt and shame, our depression, and loneliness—all our concerns—because he cares for us. (1 Pet 5:7). God cares.

When people see Jesus’ outpouring of emotion. They get the message loud and clear. They say, “See how he loved Lazarus!” Yes! Look at Jesus’ love for Lazarus but also see his love for Mary, Martha, and all who grieve. See how much he loves you that he would risk releasing this flood of feelings and tears. This is not an Easter text or message. This is a message for us who are in Lent and still neck-deep in the struggle. Jesus tells them to take away the stone despite the stench. Jesus repeats his promise that if they trust him, the will see God’s glory.

“Lazarus, come out!” Jesus cries. “Unbind him from the burial strips of cloth,” he commands. And in so doing, Jesus not only unbinds Lazarus from the cords of death and the grave, he unbinds us from the fear and dominion of death itself. He unbinds us to feel—to express the full spectrum of human emotion.