Troubler of Israel?

Readings:
I Kings 18:1-20
John 11:45-54

Focus:
I Kings 18:17:"As soon as Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, 'Is it you, you troubler of Israel?'"
John 11:47-48:"Thereupon the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a meeting of the council. 'This man is performing many signs,' they said, 'and what action are we taking? If we let him go on like this the whole populace will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and sweep away our temple and our nation.'"

Ahab, King of Israel, thought of Elijah as the troubler of Israel, because Elijah kept pointing out the things that Ahab was doing that were wrong. Instead of repenting and changing his ways, Ahab just blamed Elijah. Similarly, when Jesus did notable deeds, including even raising Lazarus from the dead, instead of being overcome with awe and placing their faith in him, the religious leaders were concerned of the effect this would have on the status quo.

People who have vested interests in power, or in their comfortable way of life, or in their standing with other people, or in their jobs or money, or in any number of things, miss the point when God intervenes in their lives. Instead of throwing themselves at his feet in wonder, they say that God is too demanding and must not be real, because if they took him seriously, he sure would mess things up, or he sure is counter to current ideas, and who would want to go counter to current ideas?

Yet here is someone who can raise the dead. Isn't that a lot better than anything we have going for us?