John 11: The Raising of Lazarus

Here is one of my homilies on John 11. Might not have all proper writing, because it was meant to be preached. Praying for you all this Sunday!

The last 3 weeks, the Gospels have been all about conversion. The steps of conversion can be summarized by 3 words…ALL of which begin with the letter “I.” Introduction, invitation, and intimacy. So today, let’s review what conversion means, then examine the last 3 weeks and how they GUIDE us toward God.

To begin, if you remember the homily from two weeks ago, conversion does NOT exclusively mean switching from one religion to another. Instead, conversion actually means turning TOWARD something in order to be with it. Yes, it’s lived out in the exterior with individuals who join the Church, but it’s more properly meant for everyone. Each one of us… each day… has a choice especially with God. Conversion to Him means to TURN TOWARD God to be in a relationship with Him.

But that brings us right to our next point. What does that conversion…that movement toward a relationship with God look like? THAT’S the purpose of the 3 Gospels these last three weeks, John 4, John 9, and John 11.

First, we had the woman at the well 2 weeks ago. If converting to God means turning toward Him to be with Him… then I need AN INTRODUCTION. That’s exactly the reason Christ met that woman at the well. Their conversation looked like this. He first talked about Himself. Then moved to her…and her sin…her struggle. How she had 5 men who weren’t her husband and is currently living with another who isn’t either. Then BACK to Him. I am Jesus…the Christ…the one to come help you SPECIFICALLY for what YOU need. Individual need.

In short, the woman at the well shows us an introduction that’s needed for conversion. We get told about Christ…through our parents or teachers…but then we need the 2nd step. YES, examine our weaknesses and sins because it through THOSE that we come to know Christ for WHO He is. He IS the remedy to your sickness. The strength to your weakness. He’s the answer to that specific LONGING in your life when you feel like…something is missing. So that’s the first step…an introduction. Who are you Christ? You’re the exact healing to what I need.

Second, the man born blind…we need to extend an INVITATION. With last week’s Gospel…the healing happens RIGHT AWAY. Christ gives that introduction…that He is EXACTLY the remedy to the blind man’s individual struggle. But the rest of the blind man’s story teaches us the next step of conversion. Invitation. Christ doesn’t just introduce Himself through healing… what you need … and then walk away.

Instead…there’s this drama…this going back and forth. Jesus healed him and now the man born blind has to consider…what does this mean? Who is this Jesus to me? Everyone around him is trying to tear Jesus down and mock the man for putting his hope in Him. But all the man knows is that this Jesus…healed his sickness and came back. Jesus wanted to change the rest of his life…not just heal and leave. So the blind man gives Christ an INVITATION to enter into his life.

And the same goes with us, Jesus isn’t just a one-time dose to heal some THING and we’re done. Instead, Christ wants to enter into our lives fully, but He won’t do it without being INVITED! Yes, the wound He heals is only the entrance point. But we can’t sit on the fence anymore. If this initial healing is any indication of who Jesus is…then I want Him to always be with me …no matter who or what is trying to keep us apart. So it means changing our lives in order to include Him…it means an INVITATION for Him to come into our life.

In summary of the last 2 weeks, Introduction and Invitation. First, our struggles aren’t a source of shame, but actually the door through which Jesus wants to enter and help. Then, our healing and help isn’t a one-time thing. Because Christ doesn’t want to help and walk away…He desires a relationship. Us to lean on Him. To Trust Him. Not for His benefit…but for our own. He loves us too much for us to live without God. So we need to invite Him in. But this leads us today. The last part of real conversion. Intimacy…as shown through the death of Lazarus.

But first I need to address something. Unfortunately “intimacy” has been degraded in our language to mean something physical, but that’s not it. It means “INTO-ME-SEE.” A deep connection. So you can have a physical relationship WITHOUT intimacy, and you can have intimacy WITHOUT being physical.

But on to our Gospel. Overall, we need a little history. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus are siblings who are very close with Christ. He’s visited their home. They’ve been with Him through various events. He’s a real part of their lives. So there is this intimacy. So this is a little confusing to the disciples when Christ hears about Lazarus being sick and Jesus doesn’t go to him right away. Instead, Jesus says the illness of Lazarus is for the glory of God.

He talks with Mary and Martha…and here’s where the English just plain falls short. It says, “When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled.” The Greek is explicit. It’s more "gut wrenching." It’s more complete devastation. Why? Because of the intimacy between Jesus and these 3 siblings. Yes, He goes on to raise Lazarus from the dead, but for our purpose of conversion let’s examine more the relationship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

Because here’s is the main point. After, the introduction to Christ, some healing respective to your needs, and after inviting God fully into your life, bad things will still happen. But if you desire and seek intimacy with Christ like Martha, Mary, and Lazarus did … there’s more trust in the fact that God will draw good from this. The tragedies will hurt, they can be gut wrenching/devastating… but a real relationship real intimacy with God helps you recognize the temporary nature of all the evil. Even though you may ask like Martha and Mary…where were you Jesus? They still had that stable deep relationship with Christ…and knew that things will be ok.

But it’s not just that…not just that God will bring good from the bad events that happen in our lives, but look. Jesus doesn’t just look at you and say, “wow, sorry that’s happening.” Instead, He weeps. He cries. THAT’S how all in He desires to be in our lives. It’s the last part of conversion. That intimacy. And when we’re assured of His love for us…even to the point we recognize HE shares our joys AND our lows…we will have peace in the midst of ANY tragedy.

Today, it’s time to reflect and discuss WITH GOD your relationship with Him in these 3 steps of conversions. Introduction, invitation, intimacy. First, introduction. 1. What are my wounds? What are my sins and weaknesses? Who is Christ in relation to the healing I need. Second, invitation. Have I invited Christ to stay with me? Do I only invite Him when I’m in need or do I attempt to keep Him daily? Last, intimacy. Do I trust God enough to know the good He will make out of the lowest points of my life? Do I know how He weeps for me…because He loves me so deeply? So I will be praying for all of you…please be praying for me…As we draw close to Good Friday…let’s approach true conversion through an introduction, an invitation, and finally…genuine intimacy with Christ.