Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb.
It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
"Take away the stone," he said.
"But Lord," said Martha, sister of the dead man,
"by this time there is a bad odor,
for he has been there four days."
John 11:38-40
It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
"Take away the stone," he said.
"But Lord," said Martha, sister of the dead man,
"by this time there is a bad odor,
for he has been there four days."
John 11:38-40
Jesus says, "Take away the stone."
With these simple words, Jesus is inviting us to do our part. Taking away stones is something we can do. Jesus evidently wants us to have a role in what he is about to do.
But, like Martha, we have so many excuses why we can't or why we shouldn't or why we won't do what he asks.
With these simple words, Jesus is inviting us to do our part. Taking away stones is something we can do. Jesus evidently wants us to have a role in what he is about to do.
But, like Martha, we have so many excuses why we can't or why we shouldn't or why we won't do what he asks.
Will Jesus work anyway - even if we don't take away the stone? Probably. Certainly he can. He is able to accomplish his work all by himself. But what he will more likely do is find somebody else to take away the stone.
Even that, however, misses the point: why would we refuse to do what he asks?
Is it because we don't know how? But we do know how to move stones!
Is it because we don't hear his request? But we do hear it - clearly!
Is it because we have more important things to do? But what could be more important than following the Master's instruction?
No, the real reason for our refusal is hidden right there in the text. Actually, it's not hidden at all; it's perfectly clear. We are just like Martha. We don't want to move the stone because we are afraid of the smell. That's it. We know that when we take away the stone, there's going to be a mess. Sure, Lazarus is dead - and that's a tragedy - but at least it's finished. As sad as that is, it's over, done, complete. Lazarus has been buried, and now we can get on with life.
To take the stone away is to open it all up again. Taking away the stone is going to disrupt our plans. Taking away the stone is going to complicate things. It's not going to be neat or clean; in fact, it will most certainly be a big mess. And we are scared to death of the smell.
And that's why we refuse to follow Jesus' instruction. That's why we hesitate to get involved. That's why we avoid difficult situations. That's why we stick with what make us feel comfortable. Because Jesus is notoriously messy when he works. His work usually takes a long time. His work often makes us feel uncomfortable. His work demands cost and sacrifice. His work is not always neat and clean.
And sharing in his work might even result in our being changed.
Jesus says, "Take away the stone."
And we say . . . well, what do we say?
Even that, however, misses the point: why would we refuse to do what he asks?
Is it because we don't know how? But we do know how to move stones!
Is it because we don't hear his request? But we do hear it - clearly!
Is it because we have more important things to do? But what could be more important than following the Master's instruction?
No, the real reason for our refusal is hidden right there in the text. Actually, it's not hidden at all; it's perfectly clear. We are just like Martha. We don't want to move the stone because we are afraid of the smell. That's it. We know that when we take away the stone, there's going to be a mess. Sure, Lazarus is dead - and that's a tragedy - but at least it's finished. As sad as that is, it's over, done, complete. Lazarus has been buried, and now we can get on with life.
To take the stone away is to open it all up again. Taking away the stone is going to disrupt our plans. Taking away the stone is going to complicate things. It's not going to be neat or clean; in fact, it will most certainly be a big mess. And we are scared to death of the smell.
And that's why we refuse to follow Jesus' instruction. That's why we hesitate to get involved. That's why we avoid difficult situations. That's why we stick with what make us feel comfortable. Because Jesus is notoriously messy when he works. His work usually takes a long time. His work often makes us feel uncomfortable. His work demands cost and sacrifice. His work is not always neat and clean.
And sharing in his work might even result in our being changed.
Jesus says, "Take away the stone."
And we say . . . well, what do we say?