I AM...

As we continue in our chapter on mission, I was struck by these words:

God's call to mission and evangelism can seem burdensome in a context where fewer people come to church and even fewer seem to think it matters. Soon, our fear of the future and of the cultures emerging around us takes over, and we lose sight of the hope and wonder toward which the Holy Spirit calls us.

I am reminded of Brennan Manning's words, "we are Easter people and Alleluia is our song." Hearing these words in conjunction with our gospel last Sunday, I wonder why Jesus explained what the raising of Lazarus meant before he raised him? Is it because the action would be easily misunderstood and misinterpreted by many, by us? 

When we think about the raising of Lazarus, do we place our focus on "I am the resurrection" alone and forget that Jesus also says, "I am the life"? Do we too quickly jump to the security of eternal life, imagining our future residence in heaven rather than the provision of life in the present?

Like Martha, I think we too easily encapsulate resurrection as a future existence and not as the possibility of life right here, right now, with Jesus. Yet for Lazarus, the Gospel describes not his future with Jesus but his life in the present. 

New life in Jesus is intimacy and closeness; it is not just the death of Jesus but also the life of Jesus that brings salvation. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, through which "we have all received grace upon grace."

Jesus breaks his pattern because in the end he was not sent into the world for eternal life alone. The Word become flesh means everything that "grace upon grace" can mean. 

The entirety of the Gospel of John shows us what abundant life looks like, feels like, tastes like, smells like and sounds like. The raising of Lazarus on the last Sunday of Lent breaks our patterns so that we can hear for ourselves what Jesus' resurrection can mean...so that we will not lose hope in our mission and spread of this Good News. 

May we not lose the hope and wonder toward which the Holy Spirit calls us as we move through this world as Easter people.