Another Opportunity to Believe

S -“Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead! I am glad I wasn’t there, because now you will have a chance to put your confidence in me. Let’s go to him .”Thomas, whose nickname was “Twin,” said to the other followers, “Come on. Let’s go, so we can die with him.” John 11

O - These sentences record a very curious source of joy for Jesus.  He'd received the news that his dear friend Lazarus (literally "the one you love") is sick.  He intentionally waits a few more days which end in his dying. All others will view this as a great tragedy and an inexplicable decision on Jesus' part. Not only so, but the bad decisions continue. Now that the friend is dead (nothing to be done) he wants to go to him; to a region where they want to kill Jesus. In the midst of all of this Jesus identifies a gladness he's experiencing.  The reason for his joy?  All of the tension, the inability to make sense of his decisions, the life and death matters, all of this presents his followers a chance, an opportunity, to put their confidence in him; to believe, to rely on his person alone.  

A -  This is not the first of such opportunities for the followers and it won't be the last. The work heaven wants all people to do (John 6:29) is primarily relational not theological. Faith in Jesus, believing in him, is all about reliance on, confidence in his person not theological conclusions about his identity. The theology is not the point … relationship is.  Following the One heaven sent will continually provide opportunities to so engage. It is a joy for heaven and a formidable challenge for earth. Following the Jesus sent by the Father requires us to oscillate between terror and amazement just as the first followers did. They found that the terror gives way to amazement … and this is my ongoing experience too.  Will I continue to rely on his person and not my understanding?  My answer is yes … joy for him and amazement for me!   

P - Dear Jesus,

I accept that following you, relying on you, being confident in your person is the invitation given to us all. You are the point, not a plan, principle or outcome. I admit that you always want to cross the lake and never check the weather and I accept your invitation to believe you. With David I say, the time I am afraid I will trust in you. Thank you for opportunities to believe.

All my love,

Steve