period, many quoted by Beard:” In Literature as in visual arts, Lazarus is
remembered out of all proportion to his brief appearance in a single Gospel.
In the course of two thousand years Lazarus featured in medieval
hagiographies, in mystery plays and illustrated manuscripts, he attracts the
attention of French philosophy and the American stage, English poetry and
the Russian novel”(Beard)
The fact that Jesus did not hurry to Lazarus’ bedside when he was told about
the illness seems strange. He obviously needed Lazarus dead and buried –
preferably for some days- for the miracle to be truly spectacular. And still,
afterwards people said that Lazarus had not been seen dead by anybody,
just as after Jesus’ resurrection no reliable witnesses seem to have seen him
alive. Strangely, one thing the two had in common after their resurrections
was the need to eat, as the writer points out.
John 12: 10-11 tells us that the Sanhedrin had intended to kill Lazarus, but
not if they succeeded. The novel tells of various attempts, but indicates a
long life for Lazarus. The most striking description is his witness to Jesus’
execution, told in horrendous realism. After that Lazarus is seen replacing
Jesus as a ‘religious idea’, since the dead Jesus obviously hadn’t been the
messiah and wouldn’t save Israel.
Lazarus is the living messiah they expect. Beard also lets him answer that
burning question everybody asks: “What is beyond? Someone shouts, .and
without hesitation Lazarus provides the answer. Why shouldn’t he, he has
lived this experience. He is the only person alive who might know. ‘There is
not nothing…believe me, I have been there, and beyond this world we know
there is something without end.”
BW
ACTION SONG for Children of all ages
Our God is so BIG
So strong and so mighty
There’s nothing that he cannot do (repeat)
The mountains are his
The rivers are his
The stars are his handiwork to
Our God is so BIG
So strong and so mighty
There’s nothing that he cannot do
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