Lazarus, Come Out!

“Lazarus, come out!”

If there is a biblical story that is brimming with genuine, raw, and heartfelt human emotion, today’s Gospel is it. It’s the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. This has it all: sadness, anger, fear, dread, connection, empathy, and then awe, joy, and astonishment.

There are, however, some moments in this story that are confusing. After hearing Lazarus was sick, Jesus stayed two days longer. When he heard Lazarus had died, he said he was going to go wake him up. Naturally, the disciples were confused and concerned. Jesus was walking right back into a potential trap–the Jews had just tried to stone him in Judea. If Lazarus was dead, it was too late anyway; why go back and risk it? When it was clear that Jesus’ mind was made up, Thomas said, essentially, Well, where he goes, we go, even if it means death, not realizing yet how close to the truth he was.

So if all this wasn’t gut-wrenching enough, by the time Jesus made it to the outskirts of town, everyone was still in shock and mourning Lazarus’ death, and Jesus joined right in, weeping himself. He was surrounded by people who KNEW what Jesus could do. Jesus could have saved him… Lazarus wouldn’t be dead right now if Jesus had only been here.

When Jesus got to the tomb, it was probably expected that he would mourn with the others, not ask for the grave to be opened. By this time, it had been four days. And “dead is dead,” so Martha said what anyone would have: this is going to stink. But Jesus was unstoppable. After he prayed, he “cried out in a loud voice,”
“Lazarus, come out!”

Imagine gasps. The clamor. The shocked expressions. And then, Lazarus came out of the grave. Alive.

We read this story in Lent to acknowledge that it is the pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry. This is the event that would lead directly to his arrest and eventual execution. This was a miracle that couldn’t be swept under the rug, minimized, or explained away. Lazarus was dead–four days dead–and yet came out of the tomb alive when Jesus called him. It was more than the Jewish leaders could handle.

For us, this moment can be emotional, meaningful, and deeply personal. Jesus calls Lazarus his friend—and he calls us friends, too. And he is calling each of us back to life. To step out of whatever keeps us separated from him: fear, anger, jealousy, illusions, distrust, defensiveness, old habits, or emotional blind spots. As we near Holy Week, can we listen for his voice? Can we hear him calling us, too, to come out?