Piet's Page November 5, 2006

We want our prayers to be answered - isn't that right? The problem is, they may not always be answered in the way we want or expect. For example, when we pray for physical healing for ourselves or for loved ones, we generally are seeking a restoration to good and full health. And yet, that is not what will always take place, is it? Loved ones may still suffer, and perhaps even die. Are we then to conclude that God did not hear our prayers, or that God simply did not want to do what we asked?

That brings me to the story of the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:32-44). Mary approaches Jesus and appears to (to use a colloquial expression) 'guilt-trip' him with: Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (v. 32) In other words: Jesus, it's all your fault, you should've been here! Note what Jesus does: he responds to Mary's weeping, and to the weeping of the others present, and was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved (v. 33). So moved in fact, that Jesus began to weep (v. 35). Some of those gathered respond to Jesus' emotional reaction by declaring that he really must have loved Lazarus, for look at him, look at how he's moved! Others, of course, simply scoff at the tears, and dismiss them entirely with: 0 sure! Well, if he cares so much, where was he when Lazarus really needed him -why didn't he keep him from dying in the first place? (Not unlike what Mary said!) Jesus, still very emotionally touched by all of this, goes to the tomb and, disregarding the warnings about the stench of a body dead for four days already, raises Lazarus from the dead. On the surface, it almost seems as if Jesus gave in to the "demands" of Mary and the crowd.

Taken literally, the story reports that Jesus used his divine powers to restore Lazarus to mortal life. Taken another way, the story also speaks to our trust and faith in a great and loving God. God is not at our beck and call.. Prayers are not orders or demands: OK God, do what I ask or I'll stop believing in you! Jesus, before raising Lazarus, prays this: Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me. (v. 41-42) Empowered only through God, Jesus performs the resurrection miracle, and will do so again in final victory. When we pray, we petition that God's will be done. God's will -not ours. We come before God bound and blinded by the cloths and fetters of mortal life and sin, and through faith and grace we may hear Jesus exclaim: Unbind them, and let them go.