A Crowd of One

“Father, thank you for hearing me (Jesus). You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” John 11:41-42

  Imagine the crowd gathered around Lazarus’ tomb. When a crowd gathers, it gathers more. It was probably a mixed bunch. There would be Jewish people, those who had accompanied Mary, believing she had gone to the tomb to mourn. Perhaps more townspeople followed along to see what the commotion was all about. Would there have been Greeks, Romans, Gentiles or Samaritans living in Bethany as well? Would they have come along?

  This isn’t one of our better traits, this mob mentality. I plead guilty to following the fire trucks up the road to see the fire that raged through a huge field of corn stubble a couple of springs ago. Praise God it was quenched before it spread to anyone’s home and before it hit town. That would have been terrible. 

  At that time, I confess to seriously questioning the person’s intelligence. What sort of idiot would light a bonfire in a wide open area, on an extremely windy, early spring day especially since there is always a fire ban this time of year? Dead, overwintered grass is highly flammable! 

  (Smile.) I have a long way to go at times. I want to do better because judgment is so ugly.

  Now I wonder why the person felt it was so necessary to light the fire. What’s the story? Is it sad? Was it a new home owner excited to clean up their home? Was it someone who had never lived in the country before? Was it simply that the wind came up suddenly, stirring a small blaze into an inferno? Questions that will never have answers.

 (Smile.) I seem to ask a lot of them but that’s okay. I don’t need to have all the answers.

  Who am I kidding? I do! (Now I am laughing at myself.)

  Is that what builds a crowd; the need to know even when it isn’t any of our business? Or maybe I am just inherently nosy.

  The story of Lazarus happened long before instant entertainment from within the comfort of our own home even existed. A procession would have caused quite a stir, seeing as it wasn’t a funeral. I suppose it is safe to assume the gathered crowd would have contained believers and non-believers, regardless of nationality and just as nosy as I am. (Chuckle.)

  But, Christ is the Redeemer. No matter the motivation that formed this crowd, He used it as an opportunity to glorify His Father and to publicly declare who He was/is. Even before the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead happened!

  These few words speak of the relationship He had with God; that God heard Him always and that Jesus heard Him. Jesus demonstrated it was possible for everyone to pass through the veil that separated the people from God according to their traditions, their religion, or their disbelief.

  It’s no wonder the Pharisees were threatened by this great shakedown of the status quo.

  Wow. I think I am finally getting a handle on what troubled Jesus so.

  Thank You, Lord, for this wonderful insight. Thank You that my nosiness will be redeemed and transformed into curiosity and compassion. Thank You that compassion, caring and curiosity will be the foundation of all relationships with others and with You. AMEN!

  Now about this veil...