Introduction: Come Out to Glorious Freedom!

The raising of Lazarus in this Sunday’s Gospel is only found in John’s Gospel; it is the last sign and defining act of Jesus’ public ministry before the events of Holy Week. We will see that this miracle seals Jesus’ fate; it leads directly to the decision by the religious leaders to put Jesus to death.

The story opens with the announcement that Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, is seriously ill. Jesus is said to especially love Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (probably spent a lot of “down time” in their home) – but strangely delays his journey for two days. A delay that heightens the drama of the story. His disciples are appalled at his intention to return to Judea, for his life has been in danger there. 

Identity a time when you delayed a decision. Why?

The scene described at Bethany is a sad one. Martha meets Jesus - weeping and saying that if Jesus had been there, Lazarus would not have died. Yet, she remains confident that God will do whatever Jesus asks. When Jesus says to her, “Your brother will rise,” she responds, “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” She has great faith for she has come to believe that he is “the Christ, the Son of God.”. Mary also comes with the same faith and with total confidence. 

When has your faith been really tested?

Jesus then asks to be brought to Lazarus’s tomb, where he “became perturbed and deeply troubled.” As John reports, “Jesus wept.” (“sobbing deeply”) We now see the very human side of Jesus. Even the bystanders remark, “See how much he loved him.”

Identify a time when you wept. 

The scene that follows is one of the most dramatic in all Scripture and foreshadows Jesus’ own resurrection from the tomb. Only the words of Scripture can clearly capture this amazing moment: 

“Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” And when he had said this, he  cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands. So, Jesus said, “Untie him and let him go.” 

I would invite you to read and ponder the words from the Gospel of John 11:1-45.

What word or words caught your attention? What in this passage comforted/challenged you?

Further Questions and Reflections:

“Untie him and let him go.” Are you “dead” in some areas of your life? What is keeping you entombed?  Do you hear Jesus’ voice: “Come out! Be free?” 

In John’s Gospel, Jesus often repeats: “I am the Resurrection. I am the Life.” Do you believe this?

In the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, Jesus unbinds us and lets us go. A glorious freedom!

                                             

Deacon David

Deacon David Suley
St. Andrew Apostle Catholic Church
Silver Spring, Maryland

Published with Permission

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