Two Funerals and a Wedding
“So
the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well. On account of him many of the Jews were going
over to see Jesus and believing.” John 12:10
Putting
too much stake in traditions is always a risky endeavor...especially when it
comes to biblical pursuits. That is most true when it comes to theological
traditions that can alter the course of our faith. Many religions have set the whole course of
their beliefs on non-biblical and non-verifiable ideas drawing them away from
God’s Word, core worship and focus for our lives. However, geographical
traditions don’t tend to concern me deeply as speculation is always an
interesting endeavor. Case in point,
this past Sunday, I took a flight from LA to Paris, France (not Texas) with a
connection flight to reach the Bible Island of Cyprus, Greece (not California),
shown in Acts 4:36 and Acts 13:5-13 where I am speaking to pastors and leaders
this week with our friend, Dr. Elias Malki.
While
reading the Cyprus Airways magazine, I noticed a section mentioning the
“traditional” sight of the grave of Lazarus here on Cyprus. Interestingly, it is believed by secular
people that a church was built at the location hundreds of years ago, like many
biblical sights in Israel too, marking it as a memorial to one of the most
famous New Testament Bible characters.
Now
you and millions of others know the story of the man who had not one, but two
full funerals.
The first one, we read about is in John 11, and it’s a “humdinger” to
say the least. Jesus is traveling toward
His final destiny on the cross when Mary and Martha send word that “Lazarus was sick unto death.” However, rather than going immediately to
heal him, which Jesus had done for countless people He did not know, Jesus
intentionally remains in the same area for two days for the very purpose of
letting Lazarus die (whom He did know and loved). John 11:6 says, “When He heard Lazarus was sick, He
stayed where He was two more days, and then He said to His disciples, ‘Let us
go back to Judea.’” Do you get the picture? Jesus not only lets him die, He wants Him to
die. All for the purpose of a
resurrection He was going to bring, to reveal His identify as God himself.
Now
in Jewish customs, people that were dead three days had a potential of being
brought back to life.
There were a few miracles of this nature as Elijah had brought a boy back
to life and even Jesus had changed the course of a funeral or two with dead
ones rising. But for the Jews, the
fourth day was the hinge pin of the soul making its departure. Translation…it
was too late for even Jesus. But, Jesus
was seemingly saving this miracle as the culminating display of His power, like
the big boom of a July 4th fireworks show. He started with His first miracle at a wedding, (when He turned water into
wine) and concluded with a funeral,
(when He turned a dead man into a live one). No one could refute His claim as Messiah with
this happening…or could they?
In John 11:1-44, we find Mary and Martha grief stricken at Jesus’ delay, and “Jesus
wept” at their hurt, (the shortest verse in the Bible, in verse 35). We
have a Savior who hurts over our hurts and heals our “gravest” circumstances.
The story concludes with Jesus proclaiming, “Lazarus, come forth” and the dead man comes to life. As we often see with Jesus, one group’s
rejoicing became another group’s resentment. The followers and seekers
celebrated while the Pharisees and Sadducees legislated. It’s hard to imagine, but they did.
At
that point, the opponents of Jesus Christ set out not only to kill Jesus as
public enemy number one, but even put Lazarus in their rifle crosshairs as a
close second. Immediately following the Lazarus
story, they want Jesus gone. But something significant to note is found in John
12, the very next chapter. The Bible tells us that Jesus went to Bethany to
spend time with friends while Lazarus was present. John 12:9 tells how the chief priests found
out Jesus was there and wanted to kill Him, but also in verse 10 it says, “So
the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus, as well. On account of him, many of the Jews were
going over to Jesus and believing.”
Imagine his testimony as the “Poster Child” of Jesus’ miracles and how
problematic it became for the religious leaders. So their answer was to put Lazarus on their
“Most Wanted” list too, and snuff him out also.
Biblical
records don’t record what Cyprus Airways does, but the Island tradition makes
sense to me. Where would a “hunted” Christian go after
Jesus was tried, crucified and risen?
After all, there was no catching Jesus after His resurrection. That boat
had sailed. But another one most likely had
made its way to a local island about a days voyage ( a 30 minute flight today)
from Jerusalem. Traditions speak that Lazarus came to the Greek Island of
Cyprus where the Jews and the Romans would have been far less contentious about
Christ’s claims and His recent resurrection.
After all, it was all new to them which is the reason Paul and Barnabus
ventured to it as their first missionary journey to proclaim the gospel.
In
the secular airline magazine, it stated, “Cyprus
is the traditional site of Lazarus’ final 30 years before dying. (They
should have added “again.”)
A church was built upon the location of his grave to mark its
significance.” Imagine
that! Two funerals for one man. Can you think of what must have been said in his
second eulogy (we can only speculate) and how they might have wondered if it
might happen “again”? In a sense, it
will for all of us. The Bridegroom is
going to return for a grand resurrection for all who believe in Him. In a sense, it will be a wedding to end all
weddings. But for Lazarus, it will be two
funerals and a wedding. It almost sounds
like a great movie title!
Terry Risser
Reflections:
1) What grave situation are you facing and
what resurrection in your life do you need Jesus Christ to bring to you?
2) Like Lazarus, what about your life is
causing people to believe in Jesus?
Consider reading the Word today:
Copyright 2014-
Terry Risser
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