Let us go, that we may die with Him.
In the Eastern Christian tradition, the Saturday before Palm Sunday is Lazarus Saturday. Without even thinking of the connection, I found myself in John 11 today actually wanting to read about Thomas. John mentions few disciples more than once but Thomas is one of them. One mention comes toward the end of Jesus’ ministry when Jesus and His disciples are in Bethany (the one on the eastern side of the Jordan). This is the same place John the Baptist had been baptizing in the early days (Jn. 1:28). Martha and Mary send word that Lazarus is sick. Jesus waits 2 days and then announces, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going to awaken him.”
The disciples clearly want to stay in this Bethany. This is the Bethany where John had proclaimed that Jesus was the “lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). This is where the crowds are coming to Jesus (Jn. 10:40). This is an easy place where the disciples feel safe.
But that other Bethany… the one where Lazarus lay dying was a couple miles from Jerusalem. The disciples don’t want to go there because “A while ago the Jews there tried to stone [Jesus]…” (Jn. 11:8). That is a difficult and seemingly dangerous place.
It is here that Thomas speaks up: “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
As we walk toward the crescendo of Holy week, perhaps we too should pause and remember why we are on this Lenten journey… that we may die with Him.
What were you hoping to put to death in your flesh at the beginning of Lent? Afflictive thoughts of anger or pride? Disordered attachments of materialism or gluttony? Has the journey felt like leaving the safe Bethany for the difficult Bethany?
Don’t forget why we are making this journey: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matt. 16:24-26).
Don’t stop, friend! Keep going empowered by the Holy Spirit! Fully let go of anything in life that the world says will bring satisfaction when in reality it is stealing your soul. Don’t believe that voice saying the journey to the other Bethany is not really necessary or is too difficult.
Because the other Bethany is the one in close proximity to the cross. It is the place where Jesus did all the heavy lifting. If we will follow Him even out of sheer surrender like Thomas, then we will find our sleeping spirits awakened like Lazarus (Jn. 11:11).
Lord Jesus, You alone have the power to “take off the grave clothes and let us go” (Jn. 11:44). We praise You for counting us as Your disciples and inviting us on Your journey toward the cross. For it is dying to self that we find true life in You. Amen.
