Today video is about the Resurrection of Lazarus, 4 days after his death, as it is described by the Gospel of John (11).
In the context of the Gospel of John, the narrative of the Raising of Lazarus forms “the climactic sign… Each of Jesus’ seven signs illustrates some particular aspect of his divine authority, but this one exemplifies his power over the last and most irresistible enemy of humanity—death. For this reason it is given a prominent place in the gospel.”
The Narrative
The biblical narrative of the Raising of Lazarus is found in chapter 11 of the Gospel of John. Lazarus is introduced as a follower of Jesus, who lives in the town of Bethany near Jerusalem. He is identified as the brother of the sisters Mary and Martha. The sisters send word to Jesus that Lazarus, “he whom thou lovest,” is ill. Instead of immediately traveling to Bethany, according to the narrator, Jesus intentionally remains where he is for two more days before beginning the journey.
When Jesus arrives in Bethany, he finds that Lazarus is dead and has already been in his tomb for four days. He meets first with Martha and Mary in turn. Martha laments that Jesus did not arrive soon enough to heal her brother and Jesus replies with the well-known statement, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believe in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die”. The narrator here gives the famous simple phrase, “Jesus wept”.
In the presence of a crowd of Jewish mourners, Jesus comes to the tomb. Over the objections of Martha, Jesus has them roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb and says a prayer. He then calls Lazarus to come out and Lazarus does so, still wrapped in his grave-cloths. Jesus then calls for someone to remove the grave-cloths, and let him go.
The narrative ends with the statement that many of the witnesses to this event “believed in him.” Others are said to report the events to the religious authorities in Jerusalem.
Many believe that this Miracle of Lazarus raised from the dead, explains the crowds seeking Jesus on Palm Sunday.
The Ceremony of the Resurrection of Lazarus
On Thursday, April 3rd, the Franciscan celebrated the Resurrection of Lazarus starting by a holy prayer inside the Tomb of Lazarus at 6:30 AM. Then a holy Mas at the Church of Saint Lazarus which is was the House of Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus.
At the end of the Mas, the Franciscans prayed outside the entrance to the Tomb of Lazarus and from there a procession started all the way to the Chapel of the Ascension of Jesus at the top of Mount Olives and then to the Church of Pater Noster where it has ended with the prayer of Pater Noster – the place where Jesus taught his disciples this famous prayer.
Now let’s enjoy the Video, and until we meet again in my next video, Let’s live the Jerusalem Experience!
