Vignette: noun; a short descriptive literary sketch.
These are short excerpts from Scripture’s narrative of the salvation story which I find fascinating and in many cases, parable-like because in a brief story or a few lines they encapsulate so much of God’s message. They are so short, however, they often get overlooked. Only those who stroll slowly through the garden of God’s Word, taking time to notice the petal of each flower, only they see and appreciate and benefit. (I’m thinking of several articles with perhaps 20 vignettes in all.)
Take a look at these and see if they aren’t loaded with importance….
1) Lazarus on the front porch in Bethany. John 12:9-11.
Brought back from the grave after four days of bodily decomposing, the man of Bethany required no book tour or television crew to attract a crowd. He sat on the front porch in a rocking chair–that’s how I figure it, at any rate–so that people arriving in Jerusalem for Passover streamed out the Eastern Gate, down the Kidron Valley, and over the Mount of Olives for a glimpse of the man dead four days! No one had ever seen such a thing. The crowds kept coming.
He was quite the attraction. Lazarus was the talk of the town. And as a result, Jesus was the Man of the hour.
Many believed on Jesus because a man sat on his porch doing nothing but smiling. Lazarus was Exhibit A of Jesus’ power over death, hell, and the grave.
Ya gotta love it. (In some ways–but different, of course–the Lord wants you and me to be Exhibit A of His power to change lives. See I Peter 2:9-10.)
The enemies of our Lord were infuriated and came to a decision: they had to do something quick to put a stop to the Man of Galilee.