Goodness -- I found this to be truly compelling and then wandered off before I managed to share that with you! I seem to do that a lot these days. Adult-onset ADHD. Google brain. The sign of someone who's got too many plates spinning. A little of each, I suppose. At any rate, thank you. I am attracted to most anything that asks me to see a situation from the other's point of view, and this does that in a way that rarely gets considered. Provocative for sure! Following the trail a bit father, I have to also wonder what Lazarus would have taught those in his presence about the state of affairs where he'd been. Was it white and fluffy? Were there choirs of angels? Or was it, as I often imagine, just like here without the human discomforts. Did he return with a heightened and enlightened view of the glory of this place?
Really hoping for more than white and fluffy, myself -- but I love how you've extended the imaginary journey here. A. Christine Meyers, earlier in the Comments, mentions a Robert Browning poem that explores what Lazarus's renewed life might have been like. You have to wade through a lot of Browning-being-Browning to get there, but that's fun if you're in the mood. :-)
These are legit questions. In which context it's worth noticing that -- out of three Gospel accounts that made it into the canon -- John's Gospel is the only one that includes this story, and John's Gospel as a whole seems to have been written to unpack and interpret the Jesus-story rather than simply record it. (Each of the Gospels has a point of view, but John's is r e a l l y its own thing.)
Wow! This is really thought provoking. I remember hearing that the particular Jewish community where Lazarus lived didn't believe in the after life, so Jesus resurrecting Lazarus there, in front of them would have added significance for them. Thank you so much for sharing. So much that we don't really know from long ago!
A few verses further on in John's Gospel we're told that there were factions who started plotting the death not just of Jesus but also of Lazarus, after Jesus raised him. Even actions for good can make such complicated ripples in the world ...!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Andrea -- and for the restack as well.
Whoa! That sparked a lot of interesting comments! Maybe there is a benefit of tuning in 2 days later! I was with the guest commenter, never thought about Lazarus’ perspective! Love how you inspire new perspectives.
Thanks so much for joining the party in Comments, Petrina!
I'm very grateful for the kid in my head who sees things (and asks questions) that the grown-ups don't. She's the reason I have anything interesting to write about.
This poem moves me and sparks my imagination. I'm so glad you shared it. I have always wondered how Lazarus felt about his situation. I'm probably off the mark, theologically, but the most important part of this story for me is what happens before raising Lazarus. It's the moment that, after seeing Mary's grief for her dead brother, Jesus breaks down and cries with her. Verse 35 simply says: "Jesus wept." I think it's the most moving passage in the New Testament. To think that God weeps with us through the person of Jesus-- it just blows me away.
I agree, that moment is the heart of the story. It's something we need to know about God With Us, that the With Us is true in our grief and pain ... that God feels those things with us, without rushing us on to feel and do something else.
It's always a gift to hear from you, Ann. Thank you.
It is a true look at the Lazarus story--it's all about him but he doesn't say a word and we don't know whether this turned out to be a good thing or a bad thing. Thanks for explaining about Buffy the Vampireslayer--I have never seen it so would not have gotten the correlation. Another good one, Elizabeth!
Was this poem in one of your books? I think I read it before. I liked it then and I like it better now. Yes, how did he feel about it. Back to his clingy sisters and now everyone is going to want to know what "dead" felt like.
This account has so many interpretive views. I enjoy this one. So upon hearing L “died” Yeshua’s first response is, “he’s not dead, he’s only sleeping.” The Reality he was literally bringing to Life in those who were “leaving their nets and following him” included Lazarus.
There was a willingness among them, strengthened by this event, to “let their life go to find it.” It presaged his own demonstration to come that he was in deep preparation for in the time leading up to his return to Jerusalem and his own torturous death, resurrection and ascension.
Births, deaths, and eternal Life.
Ever wonder what it was like for a young Essence kid, to live with the knowledge that his birth resulted in the killing of many Jewish sons?
To have his people believe he was supposed to be a worldly king that would get rid of the oppressors that killed their babies?
He was there to demonstrate we can live in another Reality, translated as Kingdom, that is alive within us. It’s not of this world. Yet we are to Be in this world. How do you get across that it’s so real, you’re not kidding that it’s a different reality entirely?
Miracle after miracle. Something so strong and clear within him risking everything, knowing what was after him, he proceeded on to deliver human consciousness from the realm of good vs evil. No small feat that. A miracle continuing on 2,000 years later.
Did Lazarus absolutely love being the miracle demonstrating such incredible Truth alive in Rabboni Yeshua? Who knows? I’d guess his faith was strengthen to conviction that what their beloved teacher was offering them was true beyond a shadow of a doubt. It’s why his very own sisters went to find him. Was he resurrected and how was that for him?
No life wasn’t easy for them, yet dwelling among them was the Word made flesh, imparting and showing them in no uncertain terms they, too, were the Child of the Abwoon, the Source and creative Life Principle. How amazing is that?!!
I like journeying into these people; finding out what it was like. We have no follow ups with many of those who were healed, fed, etc. what life was like for all these poor working folk to have the advent of such Beingness among them in their world. We seem to be exploring it.
There’s a series on Amazon called “Chosen” that is told from the viewpoint of the followers, witnesses as they traveled with Him.
We keep trying to understand as people of this world what this Dude from the heavenly Realm on earth was all about. It required dying to the person of this world to really get it. Perhaps Lazarus was able to more completely dwell within the Indwelling Presence after his near-death experience knowing, as so many NDErs do, it’s all about Love.
It's a question well-considered and well worth asking. But I think only the poets ask it! (There's also Robert Browning's long poetic monologue "An Epistle Containing the Strange Medical Experience of Karshish, the Arab Physician", worth reading through to its end.)
From my sister Amy to you: https://www.padraigotuama.com/news/stationsofthecross
Please thank her for me. And thank you for passing them along.
“Which is harder, to give up your life for the ones you love or give up your death for them.”
Lazarus wasn’t given that choice, was resurrected and went on “live 30 more years” haunted by the sight of
Unredeemed souls he saw during the 4 days he spent in hell.
More to the point—
The poet asks us “what we would do”. Hypothetically I would come back from death
to complete the volunteer work In health care so badly needed..
Thought provoking, fifth week of lent inspiring and kudos to Buffy the VS for poetic comparison .
Wow, Looocinda, you're narrating chapters of Lazarus's life that I've never heard before!
You did such important work in healthcare for so many years. Bless you for that, and for being such an attentive friend and reader.
I would never thought to have tied together the Buffy and Lazarus stories. This was brilliant.
They're both memorable stories, but maybe it takes a poet's brain to connect them ... !
Thanks for reading and commenting, Michael.
Goodness -- I found this to be truly compelling and then wandered off before I managed to share that with you! I seem to do that a lot these days. Adult-onset ADHD. Google brain. The sign of someone who's got too many plates spinning. A little of each, I suppose. At any rate, thank you. I am attracted to most anything that asks me to see a situation from the other's point of view, and this does that in a way that rarely gets considered. Provocative for sure! Following the trail a bit father, I have to also wonder what Lazarus would have taught those in his presence about the state of affairs where he'd been. Was it white and fluffy? Were there choirs of angels? Or was it, as I often imagine, just like here without the human discomforts. Did he return with a heightened and enlightened view of the glory of this place?
Thanks so much for this.
Really hoping for more than white and fluffy, myself -- but I love how you've extended the imaginary journey here. A. Christine Meyers, earlier in the Comments, mentions a Robert Browning poem that explores what Lazarus's renewed life might have been like. You have to wade through a lot of Browning-being-Browning to get there, but that's fun if you're in the mood. :-)
Wouldn't Jesus have known Lazarus was in a better place after death, and wouldn't it have been selfish to bring him back from there?
These are legit questions. In which context it's worth noticing that -- out of three Gospel accounts that made it into the canon -- John's Gospel is the only one that includes this story, and John's Gospel as a whole seems to have been written to unpack and interpret the Jesus-story rather than simply record it. (Each of the Gospels has a point of view, but John's is r e a l l y its own thing.)
Wow! This is really thought provoking. I remember hearing that the particular Jewish community where Lazarus lived didn't believe in the after life, so Jesus resurrecting Lazarus there, in front of them would have added significance for them. Thank you so much for sharing. So much that we don't really know from long ago!
A few verses further on in John's Gospel we're told that there were factions who started plotting the death not just of Jesus but also of Lazarus, after Jesus raised him. Even actions for good can make such complicated ripples in the world ...!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Andrea -- and for the restack as well.
You're more than welcome. Yes, good triggers all sorts of responses in people!
Whoa! That sparked a lot of interesting comments! Maybe there is a benefit of tuning in 2 days later! I was with the guest commenter, never thought about Lazarus’ perspective! Love how you inspire new perspectives.
Thanks so much for joining the party in Comments, Petrina!
I'm very grateful for the kid in my head who sees things (and asks questions) that the grown-ups don't. She's the reason I have anything interesting to write about.
Well done! I hadn't considered Lazarus's perspective and lack of voice so I appreciate your poem as well as your thoughts.
Thanks so much, Donna -- I'm glad it spoke to you.
what the…..?
This poem moves me and sparks my imagination. I'm so glad you shared it. I have always wondered how Lazarus felt about his situation. I'm probably off the mark, theologically, but the most important part of this story for me is what happens before raising Lazarus. It's the moment that, after seeing Mary's grief for her dead brother, Jesus breaks down and cries with her. Verse 35 simply says: "Jesus wept." I think it's the most moving passage in the New Testament. To think that God weeps with us through the person of Jesus-- it just blows me away.
I agree, that moment is the heart of the story. It's something we need to know about God With Us, that the With Us is true in our grief and pain ... that God feels those things with us, without rushing us on to feel and do something else.
It's always a gift to hear from you, Ann. Thank you.
It is a true look at the Lazarus story--it's all about him but he doesn't say a word and we don't know whether this turned out to be a good thing or a bad thing. Thanks for explaining about Buffy the Vampireslayer--I have never seen it so would not have gotten the correlation. Another good one, Elizabeth!
Thanks, Rose!
Was this poem in one of your books? I think I read it before. I liked it then and I like it better now. Yes, how did he feel about it. Back to his clingy sisters and now everyone is going to want to know what "dead" felt like.
It's been out and about before among friends and family. I'm glad you like(d) it then and now, Barb!
This account has so many interpretive views. I enjoy this one. So upon hearing L “died” Yeshua’s first response is, “he’s not dead, he’s only sleeping.” The Reality he was literally bringing to Life in those who were “leaving their nets and following him” included Lazarus.
There was a willingness among them, strengthened by this event, to “let their life go to find it.” It presaged his own demonstration to come that he was in deep preparation for in the time leading up to his return to Jerusalem and his own torturous death, resurrection and ascension.
Births, deaths, and eternal Life.
Ever wonder what it was like for a young Essence kid, to live with the knowledge that his birth resulted in the killing of many Jewish sons?
To have his people believe he was supposed to be a worldly king that would get rid of the oppressors that killed their babies?
He was there to demonstrate we can live in another Reality, translated as Kingdom, that is alive within us. It’s not of this world. Yet we are to Be in this world. How do you get across that it’s so real, you’re not kidding that it’s a different reality entirely?
Miracle after miracle. Something so strong and clear within him risking everything, knowing what was after him, he proceeded on to deliver human consciousness from the realm of good vs evil. No small feat that. A miracle continuing on 2,000 years later.
Did Lazarus absolutely love being the miracle demonstrating such incredible Truth alive in Rabboni Yeshua? Who knows? I’d guess his faith was strengthen to conviction that what their beloved teacher was offering them was true beyond a shadow of a doubt. It’s why his very own sisters went to find him. Was he resurrected and how was that for him?
No life wasn’t easy for them, yet dwelling among them was the Word made flesh, imparting and showing them in no uncertain terms they, too, were the Child of the Abwoon, the Source and creative Life Principle. How amazing is that?!!
I like journeying into these people; finding out what it was like. We have no follow ups with many of those who were healed, fed, etc. what life was like for all these poor working folk to have the advent of such Beingness among them in their world. We seem to be exploring it.
There’s a series on Amazon called “Chosen” that is told from the viewpoint of the followers, witnesses as they traveled with Him.
We keep trying to understand as people of this world what this Dude from the heavenly Realm on earth was all about. It required dying to the person of this world to really get it. Perhaps Lazarus was able to more completely dwell within the Indwelling Presence after his near-death experience knowing, as so many NDErs do, it’s all about Love.
Thank you for reading, Anrael.
I love the lines:
"...as eager hands cling and tug to free him
from graveclothes and the memory of heaven..."
It's a question well-considered and well worth asking. But I think only the poets ask it! (There's also Robert Browning's long poetic monologue "An Epistle Containing the Strange Medical Experience of Karshish, the Arab Physician", worth reading through to its end.)
Thanks so much for reading, Amy -- and for the signpost to Browning. I'll explore.
I think the last line is the epitome of what you do best: Observe (at least in your mind’s imagination) and re-frame. Good question.
Thank you, Shari. ❤️
Even though I'm not 'like that', I love it when you slide in one of your bible-based poems. So thoughtful, so provocative. Thank You!
I'm so glad, Sulima! Thank you for reading.