Reading the Gospels for Lent

 

Read ~ John 11-13

As we dive into these three chapters, first, please slowly read chapter 11.  This is one of the most powerful and profound stories in the gospels.  Jesus shows his human-size-ness in weeping.  Jesus stays connected to the grieving Martha and Mary.  When Martha comes out to confront him, he doesn’t say, “Who do you think you are talking to?!”  He cries out to Lazarus to come out of the tomb.  Let this story connect to a piece/part of your story and dwell in you – times you’ve grieved or cried out.  In chapter 12, we are moving to the climax of the gospel, Mary anoints Jesus, which is such an intimate act, and the next day Jesus smelling like he just walked through Macy’s cosmetics department, rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  Then, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet ~ inspired by Mary’s loving act in chapter 12…borrowing this holy ritual from her ministry. 

 

Three questions to ponder: Where do you, like Lazarus, feel bound up right now ~ confined by something or someone?  Where do you long to be saturated and soaked (anointed by God’s perfume) in the Sacred right now?  How might you join the Palm Sunday parade in welcoming that truth that God is with you right now in your life?

 

One fun Bible nerd fact ~ when the people protest opening the tomb in John 11:39, the KJV has Martha saying, “But Lord, he stinketh!!”  This is one of the many reasons I love this story!  There is so much in life that stinketh!  That are so many stones to roll away from the deaths/pains around us.  There is so much we can weep with Jesus as we read the paper.  There is so much that needs gospel resurrection.  And I recognize that my job is not to be the savior of the world, but to be in cahoots and collaborate with the Holy that hovers around the chaos of today calling forth life and to recognize God is here in the less-than-perfectness of this world.