Roll the stone and set him free

One of the lectionary readings for the week involves the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. I think that this may be one of the clearest examples of Jesus using a miracle to increase the faith of those around him. He says, "For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him" (John 11:15).

We talked in the Wednesday Night class this week about being in partnership with God. Yancey explains in his book "Prayer" that we are in partnership with God. God could certainly do all of this on his own, but he chooses to work in the world with and through us.

Take this story, for example. Jesus has the crowd roll away the stone. He doens't just lift it out of the way; he calls on the community to move the stone. Then, once Lazarus has been raised, Jesus tells those who are gathered, "Unbind him, and let him go." The miracle is participatory.

We are called to do the same as we nurture each other in the faith. We are called to open doors for people -- any way that we can. We are called to unbind others -- freeing them from what keeps them from life lived in God. It's a broad ministry, but it's our job.