These scriptural reflections by the Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok are copyrighted, but you are free to reproduce them for your own noncommercial personal or church use. Other uses require permission of the author, who may be reached at revsandyb@aol.com.

"When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus." John 12:8-11

Many religious pilgrims had wondered if Jesus would attend the Passover feast. When they heard Jesus was only miles away, eager crowds rushed to Bethany to see Jesus and Lazarus with their own eyes.

And we see how sin grows and multiples. As the chief priests heard of the crowd's stampede to see Jesus and Lazarus, they decided Lazarus was now a national threat. Eager pilgrims saw Lazarus and believed in the amazing power of Jesus to raise the dead. The sin of the chief priests grew as they resolved Lazarus had to die. His very life was a threat to their fragile status quo. Lazarus was a living witness to the power of Jesus. Flocks of people were deserting the chief priests as they experienced faith in Jesus as God's special messenger. The chief priests ruthlessly determined both men had to die.

There is something in this story that should stop us dead in our tracks. Rather than congratulate ourselves for having never plotted cold-blooded murder, take a moment and consider where sin has grown in our lives. Perhaps it started with a resolution to harm another person and that intent has had a disturbing ripple effect. Sin and evil grow like weeds. So stop and ask God for a moment of fearless moral inventory. Where has sin taken deep root in our lives? How has it harmed others and ourselves? With God's help, confess it and live a new life. Reconcile wherever possible and make restitution with those harmed.

Prayer: Bring us into honest repentance of sin and evil in our own lives, dear God. Help us live a better life with the help of Jesus Christ. Amen.