Excerpt from John 11:1-45

"Then Jesus told them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead.'"

Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson

A few years ago a great book came out: I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church. I was talking about this book with a minister friend, telling her how great I thought it was. She looked at me and said, "I think the book I need is, 'I Refuse to Lead a Church that Doesn't Know it's Dying.'"

We like the first title. It's bold and defiant. It makes us think that we just need to be more determined and resolute, and with hard work and a few adjustments, the church will rise up and be great. I believe the book sold quite well.

We don't like the second title. "I Refuse to Lead a Church that Doesn't Know it's Dying." We would find that to be pessimistic and negative. If it did get published, it wouldn't sell well.

But this second book title, the one my friend suggested, tells us something important and true. It tells us that we need God. Desperately.

Knowing that we are dying, we know half measures won't do.  Tweaking isn't enough. Even "growth" isn't enough. We need the power of God to break in amongst us and raise us to new life. We need death and resurrection, which isn't a human thing, but a God thing. God raises the dead to life.

In today's story from John, Jesus spoke bluntly to his disciples. "Lazurus is dead." Period. This is not a story about growth or tweaking or making some small changes or adjustments or being optimistic. Lazarus is dead. He needs the Lord of Life.

Lent is not a self-help season. Lent is about death and resurrection, the mystery of God's power to raise the dead to life. For that reason Lent is odd. Odd, necessary and true.

Prayer

Lord, come close in this odd season. When we want projects to do, drive us to prayer. When we want to fill up, fast us down. When we want cover-ups, draw us to the cross. Amen.

About the Author Anthony B. Robinson, a United Church of Christ minister, is a speaker, teacher and writer. His newest book is Stewardship for Vital Congregations, published by The Pilgrim Press. Read his weekly reflections on the current lectionary texts at www.anthonybrobinson.com/ by clicking on Weekly Reading.

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