Our Need for Jesus’ Transformation

We begin a new 8-week series digging into the story of Lazarus in John 11-12. These verses speak to longings and breakthroughs, unmet expectations and disillusionment with God, the highest goal of God’s glory and clinging to hope in hard times. These are all facets of transformation. In today’s portion, Lazarus needs just that. The beloved brother of Mary and Martha is ill. We do not know what kind of sickness befell Lazarus, only that it is desperate enough to warrant his sisters sending word to Jesus of his illness…a clear cry for Jesus’ help. Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus brings and effects real transformation. He transforms water into wine, a Samaritan village to faith, an invalid for 38 years to full mobility, a handful of bread and fish feeds to a feast, a man born blind to full sight, and His own grave stands empty to this day. As people who desperately need transformation – physical, mental, and always spiritual – genuine change can only be found in Jesus. Jesus’ work of transformation in us, however, is never easy and quite messy (p95-111) as we open up past hurts, current struggles, and future fears to His healing. Moreover, Jesus’ transformation can be dangerous (p181-182). Friends and loved ones might not welcome our letting go of old habits, breaking free from addictions, or changing our behaviors and ways. Real transformation comes with varying degrees of rejection, grief, loneliness, trials, and woes, but all-the-while Jesus is leading us to a more full and abundant life in Him.