Another one of those long stories from John that allows us to be voyeurs and gain insight into Jesus’ interpersonal relationships.
The name Lazarus comes from the Hebrew – El’eazer. “Lazarus” is believed to be a “Galilean pronunciation” of El’eazar.
And if you will remember – to be “a” Galilean in the fourth gospel, was not determined solely by geography. It was a kind of a mindset…representing two completely different world views…the Galilean and the Judean.
The Judean view represented the empire, the powers, the elite, the Temple, wealth and prestige.
The Galilean worldview is much more open, less conservative and all-inclusive.
There are actually three well-known “resurrection narratives” in the gospels.
The first has to do with Jairus’ daughter. One day a synagogue official went to Jesus with an urgent request to return to his home and to heal his twelve year old daughter. It was one of those crazy-hectic days when Jesus could hardly move because of the crowd pressing in on him. But he slowly but surely made his way to Jairus’ house.
On the way, a group of men met them and told them “not to bother” – the little girl had already died.
At once, Jesus told the distraught father, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” Continuing to the house they found it filled with mourners. Everyone was wailing and sobbing and crying out loud. They laughed at Jesus when he suggested the girl was “only sleeping.”
Jesus, the girl’s parents, and the trio of Peter, James and John went with Jesus into the girl’s room.
Jesus took her by the hand, and said “Talitha Cumi” (in Aramaic) which translated says, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately she stood up and began to walk around.
And Jesus told the “astonished and flabbergasted witnesses” to fix the girl something to eat and gave them strict orders – not to let the story get around!
On another occasion when Jesus was visiting a village called Nain, he happened upon a funeral procession. The dead man was the only son of a widowed woman. Jesus immediately felt compassion for the woman and told her “not to cry.”
He approached the coffin, touched it, and said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”
The former corpse sat up and started to talk. The Bible does not record what he said…but his words – must have sounded awfully sweet and good to his mother’s ears.
And now we have the detailed story of Lazarus. A friend of Jesus’. Jesus loved him “like a brother,” because the chosen word for “love” – that is used here, is “philia” like the city of “Brotherly Love” – Philadelphia. Lazarus has two sisters, Martha and Mary.
This is the third and best known of the “resurrection narratives.” The incident occurs near the end of Jesus’ ministry. And is actually the straw that breaks the camel’s back. From this time on, Jesus is a marked man. They are determined to kill him…and to see him go.
Bethany is not far from Jerusalem – about a day’s journey away…
Jesus had just been in Jerusalem, but, “under the threat of arrest,” Jesus flees Jerusalem and hides out – across the Jordan. Jesus’ specific location is not mentioned, but Martha and Mary seem to know where he is.
“Underground movements” such as his – often have their own methods of communication. Jesus is sent a message that his friend Lazarus is sick…
Jesus waits two more days before even starting his journey. When he finally gets to Bethany – Lazarus has been dead and already entombed for four days.
Jesus prayed and thanked God for what was about to happen…and in a loud voice, he cries out, “Lazarus, come out.” In what must have looked like a scene from the “Mummy” Lazarus comes out – with his hands and feet still wrapped in linen strips of cloth, with a cloth over his face.
As the assembled people stared in total unbelief and shock, Jesus tells them to remove the grave clothes and let the poor guy loose!
Three times for emphasis sake. Three times so you do not forget…
In light of such a miracle – tons of people immediately put their faith in Jesus. His name was becoming a household word.
Lazarus was now a living witness and testimony to what had occurred, so that the chief priests started looking for opportunities to kill them both. And the clock, started ticking – L O U D L Y !!!