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This is part of our e-journey through the gospel of John. Today is from John 12:1-11.
The Bourne Ultimatum finished the Bourne Trilogy this summer. What an awesome ride it’s been and arguably the second best trilogy ever released.
One of my favorite scenes in the latest movie is between Bourne and a reporter who has stumbled on the truth. Bourne says to him “This is real. Not in a book. This is really happening and they will really kill you. Do exactly what I tell you to do.” Then he runs off.
In fact, every person that Jason Bourne comes in contact with has a brush with death. They immediately become a target as well as Jason Bourne.
I think we tend to overlook that part of Christianity. It’s true that the extravagance of the gift from Mary is important. It’s true that here more than ever we can see the darker side of Judas. But what I think gets completely overlooked are verses 9 and 10.
Because people were coming to see Jesus because of Lazarus, Lazarus was now a target to be killed by the Pharisees as well.
I wonder if Lazarus ever had any bitterness towards Jesus. I mean, he didn’t asked to be resurrected - that was his sister’s doing. I wonder if Lazarus ever asked Jesus - “Hey, I was fine in Heaven, why did you bring me back here?” I wonder if Lazarus had resentment towards Jesus because now was he not only going to have to die again but possibly very soon if the Pharisees had their way.
But there it is - plain and simple - Lazarus was now a target because he was bringing people to Jesus. For whatever reasons, this aspect of following Jesus utterly surprised the disciples the first 48 hours Jesus was taken away from them. For whatever reasons, many of us miss this fine print as well.
When you follow Jesus - you always get more than you bargained for. Always.
It’s always more dangerous, complicated, beautiful, wonderful, terrible, and hard than we imagined.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Dawn Luke // Aug 15, 2007 at 8:51 pm
thanks for the reminders!
2 MikeS // Aug 16, 2007 at 8:28 am
You’re right. The safest place to be is NOT in the middle of following Jesus. Rather, the most DANGEROUS place to be is smack dab behind him.
Don’t believe me as Jesus, Paul, Stephen, eleven of the Apostles, and the too numerous to count followers of Jesus who, throughout the ages, have sacrificed for Him in so many ways. . .including with their lives.
Thanks for the insight, bro.
3 Jim Stallings // Aug 16, 2007 at 10:13 am
I’ve never considered the whole Lazurus aspect of that, but I love that whole ending. I’m tired of all the holier than thou Christians, I’d rather follow a dangerous God than a tame one.
4 Adwire Guy // Aug 17, 2007 at 5:41 am
Check out today’s “Utmost for His Highest” today - it lines up amazingly with this.
5 Liz Jones // Aug 17, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Grant-
It has been a long, long time since I have talked to you. I thought about you because I worked a week at Camp CUMCITO with your Dad this summer and he told me about your website. So I decided to check it out! Your pictures are cute and your family… whoa… it has been a long time! Hope God continues to bless you guys.
Liz Jones
6 Tony Myles // Aug 20, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I wonder if in today’s society Lazarus’ family would be busted for insurance fraud… after the legal death had kicked in they no doubt would have started to receive some sort of benefits. Sounds like a funny skit.
7 Grant // Aug 21, 2007 at 8:47 am
Hey Liz!!!! Dad said he ran into a “red-head from Emporia.” I started laughing!!
That’s hilarious, Tony. Get the guys from Monty Python to do the skit..
“I’m not dead yet. Just a flesh wound.”
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