July 29, 2009

Mental:
The galaxy we live in is called the Milky Way. It is shaped approximately like:

A) A round ball
B) A doughnut
C) A pretzel
D) A flat spiral

Spiritual:

Reading: John 11:19-27

Imagine yourself with Jesus and the twelve, in a town in the Negev desert. Sit with them in the desert town in which he has been teaching in the synagogue. They are outside with the messenger reaches them. Lazarus, Jesus' friend, is dying. The apostles expect an immediate response from Jesus, to leave immeditely for Bethany, where Lazarus lives. They are surprised at his apparent lack of concern, when he decides to just stay where they are, and wait to go to Lazarus... some murmur about whether Lazarus was meant to go through this....

When Lazarus has died, Jesus gets the twelve together and tells them it's time to leave, although they had grown comfortable where they were. He tells them Lazarus had fallen asleep. When they respond, perhaps inspired with a lack of desire to walk just yet, by probing at his saying, confused at why their presense was needed if Lazarus was alright. Jesus turns back to them and with a mild tone of vexation at their lack of insight, tells them frankly that Lazarus is dead.

They are taken aback, especially since Jesus hadn't wanted to go to him a couple of days before. Coupled with going to just outside a city where the leaders wanted Jesus dead, the whole plan seemed to be madness. They protested for his safety, perhaps thinking of other times he had worked miracles "by proxy." But Jesus is resolved. The apostles are confused and afraid, watching him walk away without so much as looking back to see if they'd follow. Thomas, who always thought everything out, although sometimes to the point of skepticism, surprised himself by finding himself at the edge of a precipice, and without flinching, stepped forward. He turned to the others and suggested the only honorable thing to do in this unexpected turn of events, was to go and die with Jesus!

Coming into the southern highlands, they come uphill to Bethany, just over the ridge from Jerusalem. Coming outside the town, they see Martha running to meet them. She says if Jesus had been there, Lazarus would not have died, and that she still believes that God will do whatever Jesus asks. Through her profession of belief in Jesus, a shadow of a doubt is belied. In this fragile moment, Jesus moves to strengthen what faith she has, to draw her away from the danger of mediocrity in belief. He looks her right in the eye, pauses a moment, and says with that certainty in his voice, "Your brother will rise."

She nods her head, taking the easy and comfortable explanation that Jesus is talking about the resurrection on Judgement day (when everyone is raised). He shakes his head. She looks into his eyes, and is stunned by the intensity she sees there as he says:

"I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

She stops crying. She feels something surging within her, and just cannot hold back from saying, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world." Saying what the apostles were often afraid to say. Peter's eyebrows are raised at this woman's courage to say this openly, no matter who heard her!

Lord, grant us Martha's faith. Grant us perfect trust in you, even in the roughest parts of our life. Amen.

Our Father...

Physical: Fatal Fitness DC