It is important for us to be reminded that God came to us in Jesus Christ to live with us, share our suffering, our pain. And Lazarus, Christ serves by bringing out of the tomb, alive. Christ himself is not without the need for comfort and companionship as he calls out to God. Instead, he shows them what they needed to see with the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Perhaps he knew his words would not be enough for them. To Mary, who does not immediately go out to meet Christ, perhaps not ready to face him, he does not give words of encouragement neither does he do so to the bystanders. He comforts Martha with the promise of resurrection and his loving presence. To the disciples, wary of returning to Bethany, he offers an explanation, so that they respond to him, in spite of their own fears: “Let us also go to die with him.” Willing to not only face the death of Lazarus, but potentially their own. Perhaps, in addition to the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, what this story offers us is the realization that Christ comes to us in our time of need and responds to each of us in a unique way, according to our own need. “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?” While others had softened towards him upon seeing his tears: “See how he loved him.” Many of the Jews, who had previously threatened to stone Jesus were filled with the same harshness. Jesus himself is said to be “perturbed and deeply troubled” at his reception. Both Martha and Mary seem to hold it against Jesus that he had taken so long to get there. With suffering comes emotions that will most likely bring discomfort to one another. This story is one that reflects the complexity, struggle, sorrow and strain on relationships that can often come when a loved one enters the last stages of life. Whose needs are being met? Might Lazarus feel neglected? Might he prefer everyone was getting along? Or might he feel the same way as Martha and Mary? Or have we been Lazarus, the man who we do not hear directly from in this story? The story seems to be about everyone else and only secondarily about his illness and death. Have we ever felt like Jesus, showing up when we can but only to face frustration or blame for not having made it sooner? Coming to be present, to mourn, to comfort, to love, only to have it thrown back at us, being held accountable for the illness that was not of our doing. Here comes the big shot to save the day.” If he was a true friend he would have been here already. “I’m not family, I want to be supportive, but how? I just don’t know what to do or say.” Or when we see someone come who has not been around at all “oh, now she comes.
#BIBLE STORY OF LAZARUS HOW TO#
Have we ever been the bystanders, those near the sick but not quite present to them? Not sure what to do, not sure how to help. Me being there will only make things worse.” Or, have we ever been like the disciples, who were hesitant to let Jesus leave for a place, where, last time he was there, he was rejected, harassed and nearly killed? Have we ever thought to ourselves “What good is it for me to go? No one wants me there. Have we ever been like Martha and Mary, tending to a sick loved one wondering where everyone else is? “Why have others not come to relieve us, to help care for our Lazarus? Do they not know he is sick and dying? Do they not care?” When I think about the many people in the story of Lazarus I can see myself in many of them and can see my loved ones there as well. This story is familiar to me, because in many ways I have experienced it in my own life with family and friends who were diagnosed with a terminal illness and were approaching the end of this life. In this Sunday’s Gospel we hear the story of a man named Lazarus, sick and dying.