Light attracts some creatures and repels others. We see this all through nature; and it’s not just the unappealing creatures who prefer the darkness: think of owls or leopards – beautiful animals, however deadly they are!
It’s easy to imagine that Jesus’ miracles must have been universally welcomed. After all, who could possibly be offended by bodies being healed, people being fed, and (here) someone even being raised to life? But, as we know, that isn’t the case. The theologian R.A. Lambourne comments that all of Jesus’ miracles are krisis moments – krisis is the Greek word which means judgement: in other words, people have to make a decision. Are they for Jesus or against him? Will they follow him or reject him?
The raising of Lazarus is a supreme ‘krisis’ moment: not surprisingly, as John records (v45), ‘many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.’ Imagine being there, and seeing that…. most of us would do the same!
But not everybody. An act so powerful, so subversive of cultural norms, has other repercussions: (v46) ‘some… went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.’ This group felt entirely differently, they saw Jesus’ spiritual power as a direct threat to worldly power – not just theirs, but Rome’s: (v48) ‘If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.’ Revival risked revolution; and revolution risked repression.
Throughout history the freedom and life Jesus brings implicitly challenges other power structures – even if the people so transformed by Christ live as model citizens. You can explain it in all kinds of ways, but in essence it boils down to simple, old-fashioned human pride. To believe in Christ is to humble ourselves, that God might raise us up. Some prefer to hide in the darkness (John 3:19-20); but praise God for all those who come into the light (John 3:21)!
As we reflect on this extraordinary story today, may God give us all grace to respond as that first group did: to put our faith in Jesus, and trust in him for life. And let’s also pray for the many millions of fellow followers round the world who live under oppressive regimes. May they experience that true peace which passes understanding, and may the joy of the Lord be their – and our – strength.