Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Monday, March 10, 2014 Read John 11:45-54 The sign of the raising of Lazarus was the last and the most powerful of the signs that Jesus did in John’s gospel. But, like all the other signs, the outcome of this sign is ambiguous. We should not be surprised to hear that some believed and others did not. Signs do not guarantee belief they only help facilitate the possibility of belief. It seems the predominant result of this great sign is that it lead to a “trial” of Jesus in absentia through which he is sentenced to death. In words that are reminiscent of the man who was healed at the Pool of Siloam, some of those who witnessed the sign went to the Pharisees and “told on” Jesus. The Pharisees are now depicted as being somewhat desperate. If Jesus is not stopped it will mean the destruction of the nation and the Temple. There is great irony at work here. The very thing that the Pharisees feared would happen did happen. In 70 AD the Romans did in fact come and destroy the Temple. But the destruction of the Temple was not caused by Jesus – it was the result of the unbelief of the Jewish people. It is telling that the religious leaders recognize that Jesus has been performing many signs. One might think that their acknowledgement of Jesus performing signs might lead to belief in him. But, once again, we need to remember that signs, in and of themselves, are ambiguous. The same thing is true in our time. If we think that miracles will produce faith perhaps we need to think again. If we wonder why God doesn’t just do something spectacular and “seal the deal” then we need to listen to John’s gospel. Signs can produce either belief or unbelief. In fact, signs are at best only those events that facilitate the possibility of belief. Signs can move us alone further on the journey to belief. Or, signs can be missed and lead us deeper into unbelief. The outcome for the religious leaders is the latter – they persist in unbelief and essentially pass judgment at this time against Jesus – his later trials will only be the confirmation of what has already been decided. Another piece of deep irony is provided in the words of the high priest. He says that it is better for one man to die than for the world nation to perish. Of course, what he means is that Jesus is expendable for the sake of preserving the peace. He thinks that the removal of Jesus will help prevent the Romans from destroying the nation. The irony is that he says so much more than what he means. Jesus will indeed die, one man for the sake of all! And the tragedy is that the actions of the Jewish leaders actually lead to the Roman destruction they feared. We have noticed how John has ironically put true words about Jesus into the mouths of his opponents. They wonder if he is going to proclaim the gospel to those in dispersion among the Greek – and Jesus’ church will do exactly that. They wonder if Jesus is going to “kill himself” – and Jesus will lay down his life on the cross in order that he might take it up again. So here, one man will die for all! The result of the sign of the raising of Lazarus will mean that Jesus is no longer welcome in Jerusalem and will remain on the outskirts for the time being. We might have hoped for a better outcome. But, in the end, the gospel of John is not about “signs” – it is about the saving action of God in the person of Jesus. We are now nearing that part of John’s story.