John 12:9-11 English Standard Version

The Plot to Kill Lazarus

⁹ When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ¹⁰ So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, ¹¹ because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

We are approaching what is considered as Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday. There are events celebrated within the Christian community about every day leading up to Christ’s crucifixion. What is not celebrated in our traditions is the plot to kill Lazarus.

Eastern Orthodox traditions kept an eye upon Lazarus as an important figure for those times because he was a symbol of the resurrection for any man. Many who knew him began believing in Jesus just because of his resurrection. They called it the four day death. This is what the Eastern Orthodox religions have to say about what they call Lazarus Saturday.

“During the persecution of Domitian, he is imprisoned and beheaded in a cave beneath the prison Saint-Lazare. His body is later translated to Autun, where he is buried in the Autun Cathedral, dedicated to Lazarus as Saint Lazare.”

During our celebration of the coming Holy Week many will focus on and talk about the events leading up to the crucifixion. We have every right to emphasize the events of this coming week. We may even feel a responsibility to bring these events to the lost in hopes of saving some. Praise God and I hope some will begin to believe.

What about the rest of the believers that have already come to Christ? Their souls are secure in the bosom of God. Yet they live in the present time of trouble and their needs remain unanswered if our only focus for the week is on historical significance.

Seek God’s will for those of us that are already saved and in need of another word because life isn’t a calendar.

Ephesians 4:11-14

English Standard Version

¹¹ And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

The ministries of the saints is an ongoing process that requires a measure of faith within each of us that is different from Paul’s comment here about the fullness of Christ. Christ in us is not divided, we have received Him in His fullness, John 1:16. The measure of faith in us is to do our part in these ministries and to be faithful in what we are called to do by He who is the Head. We are not meant to reach beyond what is given by seeking self-esteem.

God is to be glorified, not man. The stature of Christ will not be achieved until the second resurrection when all of His bride is gathered in Him. Until then we do all this in part.

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 English Standard Version

⁸ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When the fullness of Christ comes about with the second resurrection then what was given it part will no longer be required. The work will be complete and there will be no further need for the church age ministries. Until then, those gifts are needed and we should all do our part.