John Series, John 11:1-40

Shattered dreams are difficult to handle. Tragedy and losses come in many faces: it can be an overwhelming health issue or a relational one. It can be huge financial reversals or the loss of a loved one to death. When tragedy strikes, life can quickly lose its luster and meaning. We can struggle with the desire to move forward because life, as we know it, will never be the same. One of the great sermons of all time was preached by a Scottish minister named Arthur Gossip, who, the Sunday following the sudden and unexpected death of his beloved wife, entitled his message, ‘When Life Tumbles In, what then? We all need to answer this question in our hour of trial and tragedy. I want us to look at an event that triggered what was about to happen to Jesus, his death and ultimately, his resurrection. An hour of great victory would trigger one of the most tragic moments, the cross. John tells us that the resurrection of Lazarus was ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back.’ it triggered the course of events, which we call the passion week, or the suffering of Jesus. This incident is found only in John’s gospel, and we discover something disturbing and delightful about this story. This incident raises both painful questions and gives comforting answers. The story shatters dreams but ultimately restores hope in life’s most devastating moments.

John Series

In management courses, a concept often raised is an awareness of something called, ‘cognitive bias.’ This is dealing with how we think about and perceive issues. This is true for the work environment and maybe even more critical in understanding how it affects personal relationships. So, what is cognitive bias? “While we believe that we receive information objectively, our brains unconsciously filter data, distorting our perception of reality. Because bias can distort our critical thinking, we become prone to irrational decisions and inaccurate judgments about others.” What makes this even more critical is we think we are right. Cognitive bias causes us only to receive information that agrees with our thinking. This is known as ‘confirmation bias,’ which means we are unwilling to hear the opposing point of view and are looking for those who agree with our point of view. The ancient wisdom literature spoke of this very danger in the book of Proverbs of not carefully considering the other side of the story.

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” (Proverbs 18:16). In other words, wisdom allows us to hear another point of view.

"In a lawsuit, the first to speak seems right until someone comes forward and cross-examines.” (Proverbs 18:17)

The Living Bible, a paraphrase, states this text like this: “Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.”

One of the great tragedies of Jesus's interaction with some of the religious leaders in his hour was that they were unwilling to consider what Jesus was saying and doing. Therefore, their blind prejudices kept them from responding positively. This is true not only regarding our relationship with God but also with others. Are we trying to understand and love others for who they are or want them to be?

Pentecost Sunday