The Risk of Witnessing
"Stand up for what you believe in!" It's a cry that we often hear. But, it's really nothing new or fresh. People in the ancient times also stood up for what they believed and some even died fighting for it. What about something makes people want to risk everything fighting for it? What is it about something that makes the risk of losing everything worth it? What do you stand up for?
In the Gospel, Lazarus, Jesus' friend, died but was raised up again by the Lord. His sisters, Martha and Mary were heartbroken when their brother died. Just imagine having to watch your brother die, put his dead body into the tomb, and roll the stone over the entrance. They must have been experiencing a multitude of emotions - anger, confusion, sadness, unbelief, and perhaps hope. When Jesus arrived, the sisters were weeping and one of the sisters pleaded with Jesus in grief, saying that if He had been there earlier, her brother would not have died. Then we are told, "And Jesus wept." Jesus was sad that His friend had died, but He also knew that He would be able to see, speak with, and hold his friend again.
Lazarus became a living witness to who Jesus was - the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and consequently He became a target for the Pharisees for we are told: "And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him" (Jn. 12:10-11). Lazarus took a stand. He took a stand for his friend and Savior, Jesus Christ, and now his life was in danger. However, I believe that Lazarus did not fear death. I can just imagine Lazarus saying "Why should I fear death? Jesus gave me my life back, and if I should lose my life again for Him, then it's worth it and fitting." This was what moved Lazarus to live standing up for Christ even at the risk of losing his life. What's yours?
"Father, teach me to be courageous enough to stand up for what is true, good, and beautiful, and to never let fear keep myself from speaking up and from carrying the Cross we have been asked to carry."
"The Lord is my light and salvation, whom should I fear?" (Ps. 27:1).
In the Gospel, Lazarus, Jesus' friend, died but was raised up again by the Lord. His sisters, Martha and Mary were heartbroken when their brother died. Just imagine having to watch your brother die, put his dead body into the tomb, and roll the stone over the entrance. They must have been experiencing a multitude of emotions - anger, confusion, sadness, unbelief, and perhaps hope. When Jesus arrived, the sisters were weeping and one of the sisters pleaded with Jesus in grief, saying that if He had been there earlier, her brother would not have died. Then we are told, "And Jesus wept." Jesus was sad that His friend had died, but He also knew that He would be able to see, speak with, and hold his friend again.
Lazarus became a living witness to who Jesus was - the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and consequently He became a target for the Pharisees for we are told: "And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him" (Jn. 12:10-11). Lazarus took a stand. He took a stand for his friend and Savior, Jesus Christ, and now his life was in danger. However, I believe that Lazarus did not fear death. I can just imagine Lazarus saying "Why should I fear death? Jesus gave me my life back, and if I should lose my life again for Him, then it's worth it and fitting." This was what moved Lazarus to live standing up for Christ even at the risk of losing his life. What's yours?
"Father, teach me to be courageous enough to stand up for what is true, good, and beautiful, and to never let fear keep myself from speaking up and from carrying the Cross we have been asked to carry."
"The Lord is my light and salvation, whom should I fear?" (Ps. 27:1).
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ReplyDeleteIn this country, they often encourage you to "speak out" for what you believe in, to "fight" for justice; take it to the streets, to rally for your rights ... But when you are so oppressed, you need to make a point, you are pushed to the limit, you make one outcry; and you are clobbered, you are made to shut up, you are stifled, you become the target of humiliation, of mass mobbing. What about the truth, the justice, my right ... ? Seems like this is nobody's business, what is in it for them to care about is what is right for them! Ha! Ha!
ReplyDeleteJesus tells another story about life and death. They are no longer relevant because even if you died, He could make you live again. When you live, you will die anyway. All this right or wrong, all this fighting for truth and justice; is this the objective in life, in living? I am not neglecting their importance, or else I can become unjust myself, or to live in substandard condition. I am stressing on the relevance of such, if we can rely on Jesus to settle what is right or wrong, what is fair or unfair, what is rightfully mine or not.