As someone who delves into Bible stories, there’s one that grabs my attention more than others: the passage on Lazarus being raised to life. Over time, I’ve crafted various retellings and drawn parallels to our lives. But lately, I’ve been thinking about it differently. A pattern of three focus points: Place, People and Purpose.
Before we connect the dots, let’s dive into the passage, John 11, and a couple of key verses in it:
So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days. Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”
But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”
Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
“He stayed where He was for two more days!”–a strange thing to do, considering how compassionate Jesus is. But He knew “the place” where He had to be and why He had to be there. The “why” bit is interconnected to the purpose which you would read further down.
Now, verse 9 might seem a little cryptic, but this too has a lot to do with “place.”
Jesus likened His earthly presence to “day” and the period after His death and resurrection to “night,” symbolizing the world’s anticipation of His return. During His time on Earth, He served as the Light, but in His absence, spiritual darkness prevails until His return. Despite the Gospel’s spread and God’s grace touching believers’ hearts, the world remains spiritually dark until Jesus’ comeback.
In essence, Jesus assured His disciples that His presence meant security and fearlessness, but once He left, they would face uncertainty. They were to walk in His light, trusting His guidance until His return.
17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days.
Jesus heard the complaints of Lazarus’ sisters, saw their grief and “He wept”.
Although Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, His tears at the news of Lazarus’ death demonstrate His full humanity. His tears reveal His deep compassion and empathy for Martha, Mary, and those mourning the loss of Lazarus, highlighting the depth of His love and connection to humanity.
He was sensitive to the place, the emotion of the place and the ‘people’.
One more place, where the ‘people’ aspect comes into play is:
44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
Jesus didn’t unwrap Lazarus Himself; instead, He directed those around Him to do it. This teaches us two important lessons:
1. God places the right people around us to provide assistance when we need it.
2. God values powerful witnesses. Consider the profound impact of unwrapping a once-dead body now brought back to life. Jesus wanted those present to witness firsthand the tangible power of God.
Now, let’s unravel the sequence of events in reverse order:
- On the 4th day since Lazarus’ passing, Jesus travels to Bethany, a journey of about 20 miles, and raises Lazarus from the dead.
- On the 3rd day since Lazarus’ death, Jesus remains at the place where he was.
- On the 2nd day since Lazarus’ passing, Jesus stays where he was, away from Bethany.
- On the 1st day since Lazarus’ death, Jesus is informed about Lazarus’ sickness, and messengers depart to find Him. It likely takes them a day to travel and deliver the news.
- On the day Lazarus died, messengers were dispatched to inform Jesus about Lazarus’ condition. Lazarus is presumably buried on the same day, by Jewish customs.
Tracing this timeline suggests that Lazarus likely passed away either immediately or on the same day the messengers set out to find Jesus. Therefore, it’s implausible to argue that Jesus purposely delayed performing a miracle, as Lazarus was already deceased when Jesus received news of his illness.
This understanding sheds light on why Jesus waited two additional days after receiving the urgent message. Upon arriving in Bethany on the 4th day, Jesus performs the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. This timing is significant, as Jewish tradition believed that the soul lingered near the body for three days before departing, and decomposition began after that.
By waiting until the fourth day, Jesus showcased His authority over death itself. His timing demonstrated that even decay couldn’t hinder His power to resurrect the deceased through His command, emphasizing His unparalleled control over life and death.
And that sums up “Purpose”.
Every story in the Bible, and even our own lives, has three big things: where it happens, who’s involved, and why it matters. Sometimes, life can feel like being stuck in a dark place, just like Lazarus in a tomb. But don’t forget, God puts people around us who can help, just like those who helped Lazarus unwrap. Even when things seem really tough, God has a plan for each of us.
Being a Christian can be tough nowadays. It might feel like God isn’t there when we really need Him. But don’t lose hope! Even when things seem dark and sad, God can bring light and joy back into our lives.
So remember, when you follow God’s plan, you’re in the right place, with the right people, doing the right things. Trust that God’s got your back, no matter what.