See How Much He Loves…You!

John 11:14-45

I’ve tried everything I know to show how much I love her.

Over the years, I’ve spent hours in card shops trying to find something that says the words I want to say but I usually end up with something crass.

I’ve sent bouquets of flowers and big boxes of chocolates.

I’ve done the candlelit dinner for two and the surprise day out in London.

I’ve even plucked up enough courage to go into Marks and Spencer and bring home a dress or a top she would look lovely in.

But I guess that in the end none of the trappings get to the heart of it.

Maybe its been in the faltering and inadequate support I’ve tried to give when the chips are down – that maybe I’ve got a bit closer to it.

For me the heart of the story of the raising of Lazarus is not the moment when he steps forth from the tomb, but when Jesus is alongside the people in their grief to the extent that he weeps with them.

 For this opens up to me the heart of the God I want to believe in.

It leads to that wonderful moment when Jesus weeps and the enemies of Jesus exclaim to one another “See how much he loved him”

One further example in John’s Gospel of the opponents of Jesus understanding more of the truth of a situation that his would-be followers.

In these past days as the story about Prince Harry serving in Afghanistan has come to the forefront of the media one of the most common things I was hearing from people is the way this shows Harry as an ordinary person like you and I.

I was also interested in the Prince’s own comment that those ten weeks were probably the closest he would get – to being ordinary.

No different from any soldier on the front line, no special favours or preferences and how this gives a lift to those serving in dangerous situations who think they might not be appreciated and how this shows an image of the royal family that longs to be close to its people.

There is one thing in regard to the Christian faith that I struggle with the most.

I can look at you and understand how it might be that God loves each and every one of you. I certainly don’t know everything about you but you seem like perfectly decent people to me.

In contrast, I know all about myself. My failing and my sinfulness, the way I continually fall short of God’s love.

And I wonder if it could be true that he really does love me.

That’s why the story of the raising of Lazarus has become so vital to me.

Jesus weeps outside the tomb of one of us.

He is moved by the grief shown by people like us.

It is God within touching distance of our lives and coming to that place when the chips are down and the suffering is most acute.

In our Christian lives perhaps we try too hard to earn God’s love.

To think that we get closer to his heart according to our behaviour.

What I learn from the story we’ve shared today, is that it is the receiving of his love that is the thing we really need to open up to – at times in our lives that are the hardest for us.

“See How he loved him” the Jews hiss to one another and I think with a hint of jealousy in their voices because despite their own rigorous religious practice, they were no where near generating a love like this.

For this is not just a love set aside for Lazarus and the people in Bethany.

It is a love he would share with each of us if we can open up our tough times to him in the way those people did.

My mystery lover is actually my wife of twenty five years.

I guess I shall still haunt the card shops for that perfect loving message and still try to find some fresh way of surprising her.

But it’s when the chips are down and where what is required of me is sacrificial, that maybe I come closest to showing what love is.

It maybe imperfect – but at those times it is  most real.

That’s the way we can bring new life into a place that can feel like death.

It’s what God does in Christ. It’s what we need to do for each other.

RH 9.3.08