Passion Sunday Year A

Sunday 6 April 2014 Passion Sunday - John 11: 1 – 45

Was it a bad call? Did Jesus allow the ministry to people “beyond the River Jordon” to distract him from the terminal illness of his friend Lazarus? It is clear that the disciples were in no hurry to venture back to Bethany and be exposed again to the risk of stoning at the hands of the Jewish leaders (John 10:31). Indeed, it took Thomas to persuade the others to join Jesus on the trip (John 11:16). So a story full of “what if?” questions. But there is no hint of prevarication in the narrative. Even as Jesus arrives and hears the news that Lazarus had already been dead for four days (v17), he continues forward with his promise: “I am the resurrection and the life” (v25) and moves through the mourners to confront the tomb. Here he pauses to pray before calling Lazarus out.

It is one of those personal traits that some of us cannot seem to shed. But, just as the days move on towards Easter, so God calls us to move on, without prevarication in our relationship with him. Standing still on our journey through Lent is a temporary rest . . . not a permanent destination!