Return to Judea to Raise Lazarus - John 11:1-53
Jesus had friends. He had students and followers and people who hung around Him for what He could do for them. He had enemies and jealous peers and family and brothers and sisters. But He also had friends - Lazarus, Mary and Martha. This is an amazing story because of the friendship it reveals and because of the emotion it reveals. Jesus weeps even though He knows the final outcome and that He has power over death. It is one of the most beautiful scenes in scripture. These friends mourning together while on the fringes a few Jews criticize that Jesus didn't get their earlier to heal Lazarus before he died.
What was Lazarus' life after this moment? Did anyone outside of his family have anything to do with him? Did they whisper behind his back? How long did he live? A long, long time so that everyone wondered if he would ever die? And what were the circumstances of his eventual death? Did they plot to kill him to alter what Christ had done. Maybe because Christ raised him he never died? It's just not recorded that like Enoch he was no more. He simply disappeared from this life. Maybe.
Can you imagine the moment that Lazarus stepped out of the tomb and fell into the arms of his friend, trailing the burial clothes? Can you imagine the fear, the thrill, the rejoicing. A peak perhaps of what we will experience on resurrection day.
Lazarus Lives! Lord knows.
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