Excerpt from John 12: 1-11

"Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him." (NIV)

Reflection by Kenneth L. Samuel
                                                                                        
As a humble Christian, I've always considered Christ to be the reason why people are drawn to the church.  After all, the worship celebration is all intended to praise and to glorify Christ.  But according to John's gospel, people not only look to behold Christ, they also look to see if the work of Christ has any real manifestation and relevance in the lives of those who claim belief in Christ.  People not only want to hear about Christ, they want to know if Christ has truly been incarnated and resurrected in us.

The resurrection has relevance when it is embodied in the lives of people who have been brought back to life from death.  Perhaps it was the death of drug addiction or the death of an abusive relationship.  Maybe it was the death of low self-esteem or the death of a crippling psychological co-dependency.  Maybe it was the death of a divorce or the death that accompanies the separation from a dearly departed loved one or even the death of a nation’s presumed privileges.

Whatever the Spirit of Christ has enabled us to suffer through and survive is reason to celebrate.  People who wonder if the church is relevant, including those who wrote our eulogies,  planned our funerals, and assumed our demise, are especially interested in knowing from us what the power of Christ's resurrection is really all about.  In this season of Resurrection Celebration, you and I share the spotlight.  How will we allow the power of Christ to be made visible through us?

Prayer

God, we are so thankful that your Resurrecting Power in us has placed us now on display.  In us, show up in ways that give new hope and new life to the world.  Amen.

About the Author Kenneth L. Samuel is Pastor of Victory for the World Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia.

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