When the great crowd of the Jews learned
that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus,
whom he had raised from the dead. So the
chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account
of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. John 12:9-11 (NRSV)
You’ve been there; don’t tell me you
haven’t.
You just
stopped at the grocery for a couple items.
You’re there for a stick of gum, three bananas and a half-gallon of
milk, and……..look at that mother of all lines!
There are thirty-two checkout counters and only 3 are lit up! If you go home without that milk there will
be no peace in the house, and you’re not really into spending the next 25 minutes
developing a deep and meaningful relationship with the tattooed guy ahead of
you, or the odd-smelling one behind, so you are busy trying to remember if
there’s a pasture on the way home where there might be a cow to milk.
Then the unimaginable good thing happens…
Another
line is about to be opened, and the cashier is looking right at you, pointing
to the counter two rows over; she gives you that unmistakable
“over-here-get-out-of-jail-free-you’re-next-smile. You clutch the milk and bananas and do your best
Olympic high jump over two toddlers clinging to their mother as you knock over
two candy racks and a video display in your dash for freedom. But you’re not quick
enough!
A lady with
three tons of groceries in two carts cuts you off and sweetly smiles as she
informs you I believe I was next in line.
Now, you’re
a Christian; that should mean something at this point, but these bananas are
going to be overripe if you don’t get out of this store in the next thirty
seconds. And, besides, the woman must be
Satan’s sister; everyone could easily see that you were next in line….and, who
does she think she is...if she was really a nice person she’d let your milk and
bananas go first.
Rewind to 33 AD.
Lazarus is
minding his business dying…then the gates of heaven. Suddenly he not only loses
his place in line, he’s yanked out of the line altogether….Lazarus, come forth!
A few weeks
later he and Jesus are the center of attention.
That is….they’re at the top of the Sadducees and Pharisees “hit
list”. Lazarus thinks to himself, “How
fair can this be? I already died once; I
had Paradise in view, and this time they want to hang me”!
Reality check
There’s
always something bigger going on than you think! Whether it’s being patient with the obnoxious
person who takes your place in line at Food Lion, or trying to make sense of
the Lazarus syndrome (“now you’re in your body…now you’re not….back in again
and the religious leaders want you dead”).
The lady at
the grocery store didn’t have a fish symbol or Jesus bumper sticker on her car
(I watched as she pulled away).
(Oh, I forgot to mention it was ME doing that Olympic Toddler-jumping
move.)
The
question still lingering in my mind two days later is, did I blow the moment with my
lack of patience? Was there
something bigger than overripe bananas at stake here? Was this a divine appointment? Was I trashing an opportunity to be a
Lazarus-kind of witness to a weary woman trying to get home to her six hungry
kids?
(On the odd
chance that weary lady is reading this – I’m sorry I wasn’t more gracious; you met the human Russell yesterday. I was doing a good job of hiding the Jesus
you should have seen. You really were
next in line…my line of people Jesus wanted to love and hold.)
Today…for you
Join me in a prayer? Lord, next
time help me be ready…patiently!
No comments:
Post a Comment