“‘Take away the stone,’ he said.” (John 11:39)

John 11:1-45

Jesus tells those grieving around Lazarus’ tomb to “Take away the stone”. Martha, Lazarus’ sister, quickly warns Jesus that this will be unpleasant; he will already smell as he has been in the tomb for four days. Jesus tells them that it is only by doing that the glory of God will be revealed. They obey Jesus and open the tomb. 

As Lent rapidly moves into Holy Week, we are being focused by the Scriptures, specifically on death and resurrection. Going into a tomb is never easy. Going into a tomb where there is decay is even more challenging. It is unpleasant and may even be painful. Yet, despite this, Jesus knows that the only way to new life is through death. Death is the path to resurrection. 

Lent has been inviting us to go into the tombs of our lives so that we, too, might rise to new life. We are being asked to roll back the stone which hides what we have stored up in us that has gone dead – maybe even begun to smell! What might be in our tombs? Hurts of the past that we have not processed are deadening us inside – perhaps even stopping us from loving or trusting again. We may have lost a loved one and not allowed ourselves to grieve the loss, which has left us feeling angry, bitter and directionless. There may also be bad attitudes that cause us to act in toxic ways and harm ourselves and others. There may be particular sins we have been afraid to face up to and hold against ourselves and cannot let go of. There may be addictions we haven’t taken responsibility for that have left a trail of destruction in our and others’ lives. 

Jesus invites us to roll away the stones that we may have put in place to keep what we do not want to face up to buried deep inside us. We may think we can hide or control what we have buried, but soon, the smell will start seeping out. Ultimately, people will get to know that we are carrying something ‘dead’ inside our hearts. 

Take time today to consider what you may have buried. Can you hear Jesus inviting you to “take the stone away”? Can you trust that the glory of God will be revealed in and through you if you dare to take the stone away and allow Jesus to call what is dead in you to new life? 

Lord God,

In this time of Lent, you invite us to know that death, 

in all forms, is not the last answer. 

You ask us to “take away the stones” and allow those things we have buried 

and are dying in us to come out. You call what is dead in us to life. 

So give me the courage today to roll away the stone, 

like those at Lazarus’ tomb.

 I desire what is dead in me to be called forth into new life. 

Amen.