Resurrection

Having lived through two near-death experiences, I relate to Lazarus, who was raised by Jesus.

I wonder what it was like for him to “wake up” back in his life, still bound in his burial shroud.

I ponder his need for others to liberate him from his grave.

On the right: A man holding his garment over his nose to keep him from gagging.

How did he integrate the lingering “smell of death” into his revived existence?

My Prayer:

God, my heart, mind, and soul meditate on your words to Lazarus, “Come out!”

Invitation to Prayer:

Where is resurrection needed in your life? Communicate with Life about it.

Scriptural Touchstone:
Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:430-44 NRSV

Images

These images are from the depiction of Lazarus’s resurrection (upper right). They are in the Mary Magdalene stained glass window at Chartres Cathedral in France (1205-15).

To Understand the Image Better
The raising of Lazarus by Jesus in the Magdalene Window

Watch A 40-50 second video from inside the Chartres Cathedral (Changes Daily During Lockdown 2020)