‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’
When Lazarus became sick, we thought that Jesus would come to our home.
He would not fail to come, knowing that his friend was dying. He always knew about these things. I did not really need to send anyone to tell him. He would know and so he would come.
Into the Distance
I looked at Mary as she gazed out of the house. My suffering sister stood gazing out, as though her very longing would bring him home to us. Even after Lazarus had breathed his spirit out and left us alone, she had returned to the door and gazed into the distance. After our friends arrived, filling the house with the business of mourning, and wrapping her in sympathy, I knew I had to leave her at home and go out and find him. There was nothing that he could not do if he willed to do it, I would not give up hope even now. I would go out and find him.
Lazarus had been perfectly well five days ago. He ate the fresh bread and vegetables I had prepared, pouring a generous helping of oil over them and thanking me for the way I served up such good food and then he prayed with us before we slept.
I let myself shed a tear for our parents that night, as Mary and Lazarus slept. The mother and father who had taught us our faith and taught us how to care for our neighbors had been taken from us too soon. When Jesus was in our home though, we could speak of them as though they were very close to us. When he spoke, we could believe in the love of the Father and when he blessed our bread, the home seemed to be alight with the presence of God. This house was blessed each time his feet passed over the threshold but now, when our hearts were breaking, he was delayed.
The One I Sought
I walked the road, I asked the people I met, and I found him at last, the one I sought, walking towards our village, just as though he had time to spare. I knew though, that he knew everything that had taken place in the last few short days. Even so, I had to pour it out, all that desolation ‘If you had only been here … he would not have died.’
I looked at his face. I saw my own grief reflected in his eyes and tears welled up and flowed down onto his beard. He was feeling my pain and looking at him, I wondered if he felt every pain, every grief, every wound there ever was. I cannot say then if the compassion I felt was mine or a reflection of his. I whispered, ‘even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him’ and as I looked at him a thought struck me with a shock. I heard a voice speaking from the beginning of time.
‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’
‘Yes, Lord,’
(Of course I believe you Lord – because you have gazed on me, and I have listened and I believe …)
‘… you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’
Powerful. Loved it. Thank you.