But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, “What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.”And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, “Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation (John 11:46–51)
|Ruins of the Byzantine church at Bethany|
|Sign to the traditional tomb of Lazarus at Bethany|
|Rachel in the traditional tomb|
|A first century tomb in nearby Bethphage|
Jesus’ famous proclamation that he was the resurrection and the life that followed anticipated more than just the miracle that he was about to perform in raising Lazarus from the dead. It also looked forward to the glorious resurrection that his own conquest of death would make possible: “He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). Lazarus, a disciple who had died, would soon live again. Yet all who believe in Jesus will also live again, and more than that, they will live forever. But when Jesus taught Martha that those who believed in him would live again, he was not just referring to the general resurrection. All who die will be restored to their bodies. In his Discourse on the Divine Son soon after the healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:17–47), Jesus had taught that all would come forth from their graves, “they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29, emphasis added). Thus when Jesus referred to believers living again, he probably meant that they would rise in “the resurrection of life,” receiving glorified bodies and eternal life, usually defined as the kind of life that God and Christ have in their presence.
"I am the Resurrection and the Life," Franciscan church at Bethany
With that in mind, however, the next verse presents somewhat of a conundrum: “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:26). Lazarus had believed in Jesus, yet he had died, as countless of believers in Christ have died since. Clearly when Jesus spoke of believers never dying, he must have been referring to more than just physical death. Indeed, in the gospel of John “life” is defined very broadly as the kind of spiritual life that one enjoys, in this life or the next, when one has been reborn in Jesus and enjoys his spirit. Death, then, represents living without God’s spirit, which death believers lastingly overcome with their faith in Jesus even before the general resurrection. In other words, even if we temporarily die in regard to our physical bodies, those of us who are alive in Christ never spiritually die. (The Miracles of Jesus, 115–16)
Because the miraculous resuscitation of Lazarus probably occurred several days before the Triumphal Entry, and the Bethany dinner and anointing by Mary preceded it as well, my friend Maxine Hanks has suggested that another possible sequence for individuals or families desiring a "head start" to Holy Week could be to observe a "Lazarus Friday" followed by a "Bethany Saturday" before Palm Sunday
Ideas for Families
- Perhaps set a festive tone by making lazarakia as a family. Making these spicy rolls provides a good opportunity for talking about the raising of Lazarus and how it anticipated Jesus' resurrection (see below).
- If you have been reading a single gospel between Christmas and Easter, hopefully you have read up to where Jesus is about to enter Jerusalem if you are reading a Synoptic or up through chapter 10 if you are reading John.
- Read portions of John 11, at least Jesus' dialogue with Martha about how he was "the resurrection and the life" and the story of his raising Lazarus from the dead.
- Discuss how many began to believe in Jesus because of this miracle but how it hardened the Jerusalem leadership still further, leading them to actively plan Jesus' arrest and death.
- If you want to make this a full-fledged devotional, consider singing a hymn of comfort regarding death such as those often sung at funerals. My favorites include "Be Still My Soul" and "Oh, What Songs of the Heart." You can also listen to the beautiful Tabernacle Choir's recording of "Death Shall Not Destroy My Comfort" from the Come Thou Fount CD.
- Perhaps use this music to lead into a discussion of how very few are raised from the dead as Lazarus was and how the resurrection still lies in the future. But just as miraculous is how our faith in Christ takes the fear out of death and hold out the promise of a peaceful and joyful passing to paradise.
- Prepare for the kingly portion of Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday) by reading John 12:1-9, noting Mary's anointing of Jesus' feet, and discussing how "Messiah" and "Christ" mean "anointed one."