Lazarus Saturday
Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a little family that the Lord Jesus loved very much. They lived in a small village called Bethany (which means “house of sorrow” or “house of suffering”). The family was made up of Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus. All three loved Jesus very much: they welcomed Him into their home, and He loved to rest there.
When Jesus learned that Lazarus, whom He loved so much, had died, He said to His disciples: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep.” Here Jesus calls death “sleep” to teach us that whoever loves Jesus very much does not die: they rise from death and live a life full of joy and peace.
Four days after Lazarus died, Jesus came to the village. Martha went out to meet Him and said to Him reproachfully: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
(John 11:21-22)
Then Jesus assured her that her brother would rise again, and when she declared her faith that he would rise in the resurrection, Jesus said to her:
“I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Then Jesus could not bear to see Mary and Martha weeping for their brother: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).
Yes, Jesus wept!!! … Jesus loves us so much that He weeps when we weep, because He cannot bear to see us sad.
When they came to the tomb where Lazarus was buried, Jesus asked them to take away the stone. Martha said: “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”
At the tomb, Jesus prayed to His Father in heaven, and when He had finished, He cried out in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out.”
And the dead man came out, wrapped in the burial cloths that bound him and kept him from moving. Then Jesus told them, as the Gospel says: “Unbind him, and let him go.”
At the end of this story, many of those present rejoiced, praised God and gave thanks, and most importantly, many of the Jews believed in Him.
Meditation: Today, Jesus, we renew our faith in You and in Your glorious Resurrection. You have given us the resurrection and eternal life with You in heaven. How blessed we are!
Prepared by Rita of the Sawt el Rab team
