As death drew near for a seventy-year-old man, a cousin was heard to say to his wife, "Don't worry, Agatha, it seems dark now, but in time you'll see the light at the end of this tunnel." Some use another cliche, "It's always darkest before the dawn." These are not helpful statements. And Agatha, about to become a widow, simply sighs and says to herself, "No one understands." It may have seemed to the sisters, Martha and Mary, that Jesus did not understand the seriousness of Lazarus' illness. Here their brother is dying and Jesus delays two whole days in coming to their aid.
Should The Dying Always Be Healed?Should The Dead Always Be Brought Back To Life? Obviously not. Of the hundreds of thousands of Jews who died, how many were brought back? Scarce few. Of the thousands who were sick unto death, how many were rescued at the last minute by miraculous healing? Scarce few. None of the disciples (especially Judas). Some of them died of martyrdom and maybe some of just plain old age. The vast majority of Jews lived and died according to the laws of nature, being healthy or catching a disease; dying after a long life or being kicked in the head in the teens by a camel. It is only in recent modern times that we have hoped or been able to control and postpone death with such success. Even today such "heroic measures" are called "extraordinary means": the pumps, suctions, drips, respirators, heart/lung machines, dialysis, defibrillators, machinery and powerful technology, wonder drugs, CAT scans and magnetic imaging diagnostic gadgets -- the list grows longer each month as inventors and researchers strive mightily to stave off death. Finally, the State of Oregon has said that this mad race with death must stop. It has gotten totally out of hand and out of proportion. In order to prevent some rare cases from dying, we must deprive a hundred thousand or more of even basic health care. The vast majority of our health care costs are spent in the last months of life (surely not the most rewarding) as we lie in an intensive care hospital bed surrounded by an array of life support systems keeping our unconscious body metabolizing with artificial breathing devices and tube feedings maintaining a minimum physical existence. Not only is this unrewarding; it is often not even therapeutic. Yes, we are being forced to confront the darkness of death and accept it as a reality. In the recent past decades we have rediscovered the value and necessity of going through the darkness of grieving and mourning. Rather than denying the fact of death by glossing it over with repression and relabeling, we are encouraged to experience and express the darkness and sorrow that death of a beloved person brings to us. We no longer use phrases such as "He's departed" (like United flight #206 has departed for Chicago). We simply say, "Lars died Wednesday and we buried him Friday at West Branch Cemetery." In church, at the grave site, and back at the church fellowship, tears of loss are acceptable. And we do not offer cheap cliches to soften the reality. What if we could not die? What if death did not exist? Would that be a good thing? How long until China's population would be six billion or New York City would have a population of 89 million? What if flies and mosquitoes never died? They would be ankle deep in the yard and driveway. Nature would have to be totally reorganized on some other principle. The life cycle implies a beginning and an end. The Letter to the Hebrews implies as much in this cryptic phrase: "... it is appointed to mortals to die...." Being mortal means that death will be in the picture sooner or later for all of us. Just as death is always inevitable, there is also an undeniable darkness about it; an ominous bleakness about it makes us cringe and draw back. It is only natural that Martha and Mary wished it had been otherwise. "Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.' " Not only were Martha and Mary weeping, the neighbors and relatives were likewise in sorrow. And John reports simply, "Jesus wept." It was a dark time for everyone.
Why Did Jesus Raise Lazarus? Nowhere does it say that Jesus did this for Lazarus' benefit. There is no report that Lazarus said, "Thank you, Lord." Nor that he was pleased to be brought back only to have to die another time. There is also nothing in the story to indicate that Jesus brought Lazarus back for the benefit of Martha and Mary. Maybe Lazarus was the only source of financial support of his sisters. Women, after all, were not very employable in Bible times. No, this economic benefit is not stated in the story. What of the fellowship and companionship of their brother? Jesus did not even suggest, "Yes, I realize you would miss Lazarus in your family circle, at mealtime and at family reunions; therefore, I will restore him to you for your social comfort." No. He did not give this reason even though Jesus would also miss him. Jesus referred to the dead man as "our friend Lazarus." And he himself wept at the loss. Not only would Jesus have blessed the sisters but himself with the restoration of Lazarus to their midst. But no, this socio-emotional and personal benefit is not mentioned as a reason for raising Lazarus. Jesus states quite clearly four times in this short story the purpose and meaning of this miraculous raising of Lazarus: ... it is for the glory of God (v. 4). ... so that you may believe (v. 5). Did I not tell you that if you believe you would see the glory of God? (v. 40). ... on account of the people standing by (v. 42). Jesus, ever the teacher, adds a moral or lesson to healings and other works of wonder. To one patient he said, after the healing, that she should go and sin no more. The goal that she needed to attain was to learn the need to change her life. If she learned that lesson, the healing was well worth it. To this very day physicians throw up their hands when patients come back again and again because of their illness-producing behavior. We call it recidivism. Jesus used signs and wonders to open people's eyes and to foster their faith -- an early example of audiovisual aids in teaching. But Jesus looked upon these as means to an end and not ends in themselves. For example, he once seemed a bit put out that people just wanted to be entertained without getting the lesson straight. In the sixteenth chapter of Matthew, we have this encounter with the Pharisees and Sadducees: "... and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven." Jesus rebuked them, "An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign...." And to the official at Capernaum, whose son was ill, Jesus said, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe."
Seeing Light In Darkness First off, let us agree that the solution is not to deny darkness, whether it be fatal illness, debilitating illness, unemployment, loss of loved one through death, or loss of status through unemployment. Once a deteriorating man sat across from me in a most despairing state of mind. He shared that he had just now come from a park with a swiftly flowing river where he had sat for four hours trying to decide whether to drown himself. He was in that much darkness. He finally was able to see the light through Alcoholics Anonymous. He found a Power greater than himself and became a new person. It was as though Jesus had said to him, "Come out; come out of your cave of isolation and despair." And Jesus said to the fellow alcoholics in his squad meeting, "Unbind him, and let him go." Let him go back into life. He's been dead long enough. Jesus was more concerned about spiritual darkness than physical darkness. You remember last Sunday how he spoke about the paradox of the seeing and the blind: "... For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." One may see very well in the marketplace of shrewd practices or in the political arena of one's lost integrity, and even appear to prosper according to the values of this world. But what if in the process one descended into spiritual darkness? In the tenth chapter of Matthew Jesus speaks of this plainly.
What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. -- Matthew 10:27-28 RSV
Can we take this stance? Can we have less fear of death whether we are killed by cancer, old age, car accident, war, or an intruder into our home than we have fear of losing our integrity, our identity, and our personhood? Jesus did not hesitate to head directly into what anyone, especially his disciples, would know were dark days ahead. His disciples doubted if he should even go back to where Martha and Mary were grieving and where Lazarus lay, in Bethany on the very outskirts of Jerusalem, from where Jesus had just recently escaped within an inch of his life. "Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" His reply:
Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.-- John 11:9-10 RSV
Fascinating! Maybe the light is not at the end of the tunnel; rather it is "in" oneself. The Quakers refer to the "Inner Light." Faith is inside a person, not out there somewhere. We read about the Spirit dwelling in us, guiding us and sanctifying us. Jesus pressed on to Jerusalem because he had a resurrection faith that would sustain him even though his body would be put to death. That light guided and empowered him even unto his own darkness of Good Friday. We have spoken of "inner light" as the inward experience of faith and confidence. But there is another symbolism. In John's Gospel there is a testimony as to the nature of the Christ who came into the world at Christmas. It is not the warm Sunday school program story of the shepherds and wise men and the baby Jesus lying in the manger. It is more philosophical and deals with the coming into the world of the True Wisdom and the True Light. It goes like this:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the world did not overcome it ... The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.-- John 1:1, 3-5, 9
Thus the Christ is a beacon guiding us through an often dark journey even through death. Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." That would be the lot of Lazarus in the long run, for Martha, for Jesus himself, and for us. For some cultures light is very significant, especially in northern countries where it is a scarce item during many months. I think of a beloved Danish hymn, which captures the lifesaving function of light. On this island country surrounded by the rough seas, there are lighthouses to guide the fishermen and crews of merchant freighters, who are hoping to make it safe to the harbor at last. What a welcome sight is the blinking light indicating the safe entrance to the harbor and home. Aaberg has a verse in a Danish hymnal that I don't find anywhere else:
"Vor Fader har Lys i sit Vindue."Our Father has light in His window,It shines through the darkening nightAnd carries a friendly greetingTo all from the Lord of light
Our Father has light in His window,It brightens the darkest road,It comforts in need and sorrowAnd points us the way to God.
Our Father has light in his window,It beckons thro' storm and gloamAnd, beaming with loving kindness,It bids us: Come home, come home!
Whether a young cabin boy who had run away from home to go to sea, or a seasoned captain back from another long sea journey, or a rugged old salt who was almost accustomed to such long absences from home and family -- all on board were glad to see the harbor light. That is truly seeing light in the darkness. When we are tempted to focus only on the darkness, may we pray for light enough for our journey until we also come safe to the harbor at last. Amen.