COME FORTH

John 11 records the miraculous restoration to life of a dead man, Lazarus, by Jesus Christ at Bethany.

Resurrection of Lazarus. 13th century

Private coll., Athens. 12-13 c. Воскрешение Лазаря

“The reputed first tomb of Lazarus at al-Eizariya in the West Bank (generally believed to be the biblical Bethany) continues to be a place of pilgrimage to this day. Several Christian churches have existed at the site over the centuries. Since the 16th century, the site of the tomb has been occupied by the al-Uzair Mosque. The adjacent Roman Catholic Church of Saint Lazarus, designed by Antonio Barluzzi and built between 1952 and 1955 under the auspices of the Franciscan Order, stands upon the site of several much older ones. In 1965, a Greek Orthodox church was built just west of the tomb.

Possible site of the tomb of Lazarus

The entrance to the tomb today is via a flight of uneven rock-cut steps from the street. As it was described in 1896, there were twenty-four steps from the then-modern street level, leading to a square chamber serving as a place of prayer, from which more steps led to a lower chamber believed to be the tomb of Lazarus. The same description applies today” (Wikipedia, 14 June 2014).

Russian Icon. The Raising of Lazarus. 15th century.
Novgorod school. 72 x 60 cm. The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia 

As we read from the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New Testament many parables are given and many miracles performed. Besides the story of the miraculous restoration to life of Lazarus, this week we also read many other parables from Luke 15-18. These seem to set a general context for the great miracle that is about to take place, the restoration of life after death as Lazarus comes forth from the tomb (John11). 

Often Jesus taught principles, and then followed them with a miracle. An easy example showing this pattern is the healing of the 10 lepers in Luke 17:11-19. Jesus has been teaching about attitudes – outward appearances versus what is really in the mind and heart. He has taught about authority, duty, forgiveness, serving others, and gratitude. 

Jesus with Grateful Leper by William Hole

Luke 17:5 records that the apostles ask that He teach to increase their faith. He gives a story about how we fail to show gratitude to a servant that is being dutiful (Luke 17:7-10). Almost immediately after this teaching, Jesus heals the 10 lepers. The miracle is a clear illustration of what he has just been teaching. It even illustrates the duty of the priests to "judge" the people, and have stewardship for them. The lepers must be judged clean by the priests. 

The other stories and miracles also illustrate many true principles, yet they all point to one overarching truth. “One must pay a high price to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Where much is given, much is required, and only those who are willing to sacrifice their personal desires in order to be true to the teachings of the Savior shall merit his benediction, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

We have seen also that true disciples of Christ are under solemn obligation to make a conscious, deliberate choice in favor of the kingdom of God and against the forbidden enticements of this fallen world. One cannot enjoy membership in the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan at the same time. To attempt to do so is to partake of that leaven—hypocrisy—that Jesus so strongly condemned” (p. 123, The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles). 

THERAISING СИ LAZARIS. Late 14th — early 15th Century.
 Byzantium From the Collection of G. Gamon-Gumun. Russian museum

In Luke 15 we read the parables about the many ways we can become lost and again be found: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the 2 prodigal sons – one who rebelled and the other who had difficulty forgiving and “would not go in” to the feast (pp. 126-137, The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles).  In each case the "lost" is "found" by someone who cares enough to search for them and "find" them.

Then  we read of Jesus sharing the parables of the unjust steward, and the Rich Man and Lazarus - a poor beggar that lies at the rich man’s gate. It is doubtful that this is the same Lazarus, yet the very name evokes the understandings of the resurrection that are gleaned from the events that will soon occur – death being overcome. In the parable we learn of the great "gulf" fixed between heaven and hell and how neither can pass to the other. 

All know that Lazarus has returned from the dead. He witnesses and teaches of the love of Jesus Christ that can return each of us to “life.” Even though he “rose from the dead” (like requested by the rich man and the beggar Lazarus, Luke 16:20-31), his testimony is rejected by the very leaders Jesus taught. John 12:10-11 explains that “the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.” 

Raising Lazarus, Oil on Copper Plate, 1875, 

Carl Heinrich Bloch (Hope Gallery, Salt Lake City)

Jesus gave these parables while eating with the lawyers and Pharisees (Luke 14:1). He was talking with the rulers and religious leaders of the Jews, teaching them. What was he teaching them? Footnote ‘a’ for Luke 16:16 refers us to the appendix. There, in verse 20, we read that “the Father hath sent [Jesus] to fulfill the law, that [even they] might all be redeemed.”

The message is clear – Jesus Christ has come to “find” all God’s children, the sheep, the coins, the prodigals, the stewards, the rich, and the poor – all! No matter how we are lost, or sick, we can be “found” and "healed." 

Through Jesus Christ, all may be restored to everlasting life and happiness.
All may "come forth."