(We skipped the 34th chapter of Genesis where
Jacob bought land near Shechem, near where Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the
well. This story shows again Jacob’s
favoritism in the family and the distinctions between Leah and her children and
Rachel and hers, it sets the stage for the saga of Joseph in many ways.)
The Lord renews the covenant as Jacob obediently goes back
to Bethel to worship and erect an altar to the Lord “who answers me in the day
of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” Jacob gets a name change from deceiver to the
one who struggles with God. The Lord
calls Jacob/Israel to be fruitful and multiply, the original commandment given
to Adam and Noah, but here it comes after he has already been fruitful. The promises of the Lord are those given to
his father and grandfather concerning nations and land. Like his grandfather, after receiving the
promise, Jacob moves on. As they move on
from Bethel Rachel goes into labor and dies, surely a heart-breaking day for
Jacob. He buries her here and sets up a
pillar over her, an extraordinary act of love and devotion.
Apparently Jesus has a different definition of death given
his response to the disciples, “This illness does not lead to death.” Go back to Genesis and the promise from God
that if Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they
would surely die. They didn’t “die” in
the sense we typically mean death, so Jesus is clearly talking about what God
thinks of as “real life”, which is eternal life. John tells us that Jesus loved Martha, her
sister, and Lazarus, so He is not being callous by not going to them. Their need is greater than even they realize,
He loves them enough to give them an even larger picture of who He is than
healing Lazarus. They already have the faith He can heal. Everyone is confused in this passage. Jesus has said the sickness doesn’t lead to
death so when He says also that Lazarus has fallen asleep they assume that
means he is getting better through rest and then Jesus says, “Lazarus is dead.” Contradictions abound. He won’t go to them while Lazarus is sick and
then decides to go when he dies? What is
the point? Thomas, speaking for all the
disciples, is fatalistic about this journey back near Jerusalem, his words
dripping with irony.
“We know we have passed out of death into life, because we
love the brothers.” John seems to be
saying here that naturally we don’t love our brothers and sisters, naturally we
are like Cain. Is that true? When Jesus raised the bar on murder to simple
hatred, he convicted and condemned us all.
Jesus loved those who did evil to Him, even those who crucified
Him. Do we love the brothers as we are
intended? John says we are to love one
another to the point of willingness to die for one another. He makes the standard a bit simpler in that
we are to provide for one another’s needs and reminds us that love is an active
verb, it requires proof. Jacob had to go
when the Lord told him to go to prove his faith. Jesus loved Lazarus but you have to believe
the family at least wondered how much since He didn’t come in response to their
plea. What is love calling you to do for
a brother or sister, or for the Lord, today?
My heart is steadfast,
O God!
I will sing and make melody with all my being!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
I will sing and make melody with all my being!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
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