BETHANY - the Raising of Lazarus from the dead

   

Bethany Church

The Tomb of Lazarus

                                                                                  Inside the Church

THE RAISING OF LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD

The motif of Light and Dark in Gospel of St John in chapters 8 and 9 continue here. This Gospel is linked with Gospel of the Man Born Blind since 1. The purpose in each was to glorify God 2. There would be an increase in conflict with the Jewish authorities.  All ‘ signs ‘ ( St John speaks often of signs ) were revelations of who Jesus is and what He offers – from the first sign in Cana. Here is the final sign. Signs are more than wonderful deeds by the Lord but are signs.           Jesus offers Life. Interesting that Jesus offers Lazarus life but that means that Jesus shall die – only to offer all eternal life.  Lazarus means ‘ God has helped’. Often in Hebrew as Eleazar.  This chapter is solidly true – that is why we know the name of the man ( Lazarus ) and his sister’s names and the exact name of the town. It is in Bethany near Jerusalem , not the Bethany beyond the Jordan where John was baptizing John 1:28. In modern day Israel there is a large security wall around Bethany ( see below ) – ironic that it is here that Jesus frees . Bethany means ‘House of Obedience’ – again a perfect place for this last miracle.   

The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, saying,  “Master, the one you love is ill.”
When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death,
but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

The sisters of Lazarus are Martha and Mary – the same ones as the busy Martha and the listening Mary. Mary also was the one to anoint Jesus six days before Passover, just before Palm Sunday when Jesus made His last visit to their home. This was the anointing to which Judas criticized her. John 12  Only this family and the Beloved Disciple ( John ) are mentioned in the Bible as ones loved by Jesus.

Note the sister’s request – they only tell Jesus that Lazarus is ill; the do not tell Jesus what to do. This is similar to Wedding of Cana when Mary told Jesus the situation but did not tell Him what to do.  Intercede with humility versus telling God what to do *** At Cana the hour was not yet and was far off  but now the hour is fast approaching.

Note – this is for 1. The glory of God so that , next 2. The Son of God may be glorified.         The Father is the source of all life & the Son is glorified as the One who acts in obedience  and thus shares in the Father as source of life 

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was.
Then after this he said to his disciples,  “Let us go back to Judea.”

Jesus delayed in going. At Cana He delayed the miracle but here He delayed it even longer –  this could have been an even greater scandal but in fact was to be the greater glory.    

Greater things are for those who await ***  There is also the Jewish thought that the soul stayed on for four days. In thus waiting there would be no question that Lazarus was dead and rose.  Jesus knew that He was going to risk His life in going in public in Judea.                  

 But there is no real danger for He is under the Father’s Will and protection. 

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.                                                                 

Again the mention of the four days. Martha goes out. Again Martha is the one who is anxious  and cannot sit by the tomb as Mary did.

Martha said to Jesus,  “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”

Why does Martha say this ? Maybe 1. She rebukes Jesus – it is a human reaction. Where are you God ? ***   Here she sees Jesus only as an intermediary to God. That is why she says – what you ask of God. But here before her is God Himself.  OR 2. Martha’s faith had to grow more. Like the woman at the well she did not fully understand. OR 3. It is a Lament – I believe that you could have healed him and now I am in pain and laments **

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.”
Martha said, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”

Martha’s answer here is quick and assured but this Resurrection that she speaks of is the Jewish believe of  many that he will rise on the Last Day . She does not make the statement of Lazarus’ rising here and now

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus’ reply, as in the previous chapter 10 I am the Gate / I am the Good Shepherd.                  This is the same great I AM , that is God.  This I AM is two parts – resurrection and life.  Jesus gives Lazarus and us both – life  and also resurrection.  Both go together for a believer never dies – for one who is saved life is a continuum. Thus Jesus does not say I am Life and then I am later Resurrection. But rather we are on earth I our life and then continues our life in the resurrection.    I AM also means to be IN Jesus. It is not His actions that give us Life but to be IN Him – I AM – that communion with His means Life !

Jesus then asks her this question, as He asks us, *** to give her ( and us ) an opportunity to make a profession of faith. Jesus also did this with the Blind Man.    

She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world.”

It is interesting to note that Martha does not just answer Jesus with the same Q and A by saying – yes You are the Resurrection and the Life. But her answer is quite different – Christ and Son of God. This is her profession of Jesus’ Mission and His Nature. If He is the Life and Resurrection then she states - Your mission is that of Christ ( The Anointed One ) and nature is that of Son of God; He who took on flesh in this world.      

He became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?”
They said to him, “Sir, come and see.”                                                                                 

And Jesus wept.

          Jesus as perturbed / deeply troubled / weeps : There are many writings of above.                      

          Jesus is perturbed by death. He rebukes death and is angered by it. Weeps – He does not wail    

          ( klaio ) but weeps or sheds tears ( dakryo). Like St Paul would say later – do not grieve like  

            the rest of humanity who have no hope 1 Thess 4:13

St John Chrysostom says ~ “ He wept over Lazarus. So should you: weep, but gently, but with decency, but with the fear of God. If you weep thus, you do so not as disbelieving the resurrection, but as not enduring the separation. Since even over those who are leaving us, and departing to foreign lands, we weep, yet we do this not as despairing. “  

So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”
But some of them said,  “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man
have done something so that this man would not have died?”

This statement above is not so much a matter of disbelief but rather – Jesus cured the Blind Man – He can do that. He seemed to be Lord of Creation. Now they are puzzled – can He not then also go this ? 

So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb.
It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, 

“Lord, by now there will be a stench;  he has been dead for four days.” 

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone.

The Gospel does not hesitate to mention that AGAIN Jesus is moved.                  

 Martha’s objection due to the smell heightens the greatness of this miracle and sign.               Jesus is about to raise one who is decayed ! But when raised Lazarus shall be fully restored. This will glory God.  Jesus calls THEM to take the stone away – their responsibility. He could have done it through a miracle. We are to remove the stones from our hearts and one another. Not only that but sin STINKS ! There are such situations.  

And Jesus raised his eyes and said,  “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.

Three important points above 1. Jesus raises His eyes – it is a gesture of looking away from oneself and toward God 2. He names God as Father – there is a true intimacy here. This now is the Name Jesus calls. 3. There is actually not a petition ( Father make Lazarus live ) but His prayer is rather a prayer of thanksgiving.  I thank you Father.   4. Jesus is certain He is heard. He has utter confidence.  5. Jesus prayer works – Lazarus arises and many believe. 

Awesome -  what about us and our prayer to God ? Do we do the above as the Lord did ?  ******

And when he had said this, He cried out in a loud voice,   “Lazarus, come out!”

Jesus cries out as one summon a soul from a far.   He calls Lazarus by name.                    God’s Voice is effective – from creation to the End of the World. This is His proclamation       to all the faithful deceased – arise ! Come out ! We hope to hear this, our name called at the Judgement Day. 

The dead man came out, 

tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth.
So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

This is the second loud command of Jesus. Again it is now your responsibility to free Lazarus. Also through this the people truly witness the miracle – they touch Lazarus.    Also there is a kind of spiritual unbinding – remember Jesus uses these words in establishing the Sacrament of Reconciliation ( Confession ) where He promised the Apostles that He would bind and loose people’s sins.

  

Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary
and seen what he had done began to believe in him.

But then verse 46 follows – but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.                   The hour has come !

QUESTIONS

1.       What does it mean that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life ?

2.       What does it mean that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ?

3.       Can you think of a situation where you saw an unbinding ?

4.       As noted above :        Three important points above 1. Jesus raises His eyes – it is a gesture of looking away from oneself and toward God 2. He names God as Father – there is a true intimacy here. This now is the Name Jesus calls.  3. There is actually not a petition ( Father make Lazarus live ) but His prayer is rather a prayer of thanksgiving.  I thank you Father.   4. Jesus is certain He is heard. He has utter confidence.  5. Jesus prayer works – Lazarus arises and many believe. 

Awesome -  what about us and our prayer to God ? Do we do the above as the Lord did ?

5.       If you had to name a Homily for the preaching of this Gospel what would it be ?