This week’s readings from the Revised Common Lectionary are highly complementary. When we consider the Old Testament reading from Ezekiel 37 (The Valley of the Dry Bones) we tend to focus on the imagery of the bones coming together, being overlaid with sinews, and enfleshed. But God’s message at the end of Ezekiel’s prophecy is of primary importance: “Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act” (Ezekiel 37.12-14; NRSV). Imagine the hope, the joy, that the exiles must have experienced when they heard these words.
The gospel of John is intent on demonstrating that Jesus is the promised Messiah. The story of the resuscitation of Lazarus serves as one of these demonstrations.
When Jesus asked that the stone be rolled away from the tomb, Mary cautioned that as Lazarus had been dead for four days, there would be a stench. Jesus told her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
When the stone was rolled away, Jesus looked to heaven and prayed, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” Did you catch that … “so that they may believe that you sent me.”
Jesus then cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus came forth wrapped in the grave cloths, then Jesus commanded, “Unbind him, and let him go” (John 11.38-44; NRSV). We are further told that many of the Jews who had come out with Jesus, and who witnessed this event, believed in him. The witnesses would have been familiar with Ezekiel’s prophecy – “you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves.” They would have seen the connection between this prophecy and Jesus’ actions.
Perhaps you are wondering how this relates to the observance of Lent. John’s gospel further tells us that while many Jews believed in Jesus, some went to the Pharisees and reported what they had witnessed. The chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the council and the question was posed: “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation” (John 11.47-48). Notice the threat to the established social order posed by one who could raise the dead. We further read, “Then Caiaphas, the high priest said, ‘You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed’” (John 11.49-50).
What a story! Lazarus, a man dead for four days was resuscitated. Note: I did not say “resurrected,” for Lazarus would have died again. But this resuscitation showed Jesus’ power over death; it foreshadowed, and precipitated, Jesus’ death and resurrection a few days later.
When we first meet Jesus, we too are figuratively wrapped in burial clothes. But Jesus, and God’s people, invite us to come forth that we may be unwrapped and set free to participate in the building of God’s kingdom. Jesus comes bearing new life — an abundant life (not necessarily a life of material abundance) filled with joy.
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