A Word about being a Known Associate

 

Today I want to share a word about being a known associate, as I comment on John 12:9-11. This passage reads: 

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.

Last week we considered the supper at Bethany in which Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with a costly perfume. She considered it worth the cost to honor her Lord in that way, and not only was it an object lesson for us us to follow today, it also was a foreshadowing of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. But this meal was also noteworthy because another follower of Jesus was present: Lazarus.

The One The Lord Loved:

Lazarus, as we remember, was the brother of Mary and Martha and all of them were followers of Jesus. In fact, we know that Jesus and Lazarus had a close relationship, because when he became sick, his sisters sent for Jesus, saying “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

Mary and Martha knew Jesus could heal their brother, and because of their relationship, they expected Jesus would hurry to their brother’s aid. Events did not play out that way, however, because Jesus had a bigger vision for this situation than Mary, Martha, or Lazarus could ever have imagined.

Jesus allowed Lazarus to die and be buried. In fact, He delayed his coming to them so long that when He asked for the tomb to be opened, Martha demurred, protesting that Lazarus would have already begun to decay. These circumstances allowed Jesus to demonstrate His power over death by raising Lazarus from the grave, and restoring him to his family.

A Known Associate of the Lord:

Not only did Jesus demonstrate His power, He also empowered the witness of Lazarus, such that people came to Bethany to see him as well as to see Jesus. This troubled the chief priests so much that, not only did they plot kill Jesus, they decided that Lazarus, as a “known associate” of Jesus, must go as well.

We don’t know what ultimately happened to Lazarus. The Bible doesn’t record his second and final physical death. We do know, however, that he was closely associated with Jesus and that he was a powerful witness for Him.

Probing Questions:

What about us? Are we “known associates” of Jesus? 

What about our own witness to Christ? Acts 1:8 tells us that we will be a witness to Him, but are we a good witness or a bad witness?

What about our reputation? Are we known as people whose lives were transformed by Christ?

What about our safety? Being a “known associate” of Jesus was hazardous to Lazarus’s health, but like Mary, he believed it was worth the cost. Remember, Jesus was a countercultural figure in His society, and He remains so today. Is being a “known associate" of His worth the cost to us?

What about Jesus? Would He be glad to be a “known associate” of ours?

What about this passage of Scripture? Who would have thought that just three small and often overlooked verses would pose such powerful questions?

My desire for all of us is that we would relish the idea of being a “known associate” of Jesus, and that He would be glad to be a “known associate”of ours!

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt