The Lazarus Brigade, Part 3: Behind Blood Falls

Pamela Thorson

December 15, 2023

Jesus wept.

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, His followers were mourning the death of Lazarus. He sent Martha to find Mary. Martha found Mary in despair, surrounded by mourners who were attempting to console her. At the sight of Jesus, she fell to His feet in abject grief.

…saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved Him!” But some said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?” So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb.”

– John 11:32-38

The original language of this passage suggests Jesus was filled with both intense sorrow and indignation at the scene. The hopelessness of His followers and the open questioning of His power filled the Master as He stood before the tomb of Lazarus.

Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

– John 11:39

Not just a stench. The rotting body of a beloved brother. Martha and Mary must have reacted in horror.

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone.

– John 11:40-41

The putrid odor of death and spices escaped from the tomb’s dark belly and assaulted the mourners.

Just as they expected.

Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

– John 11: 40-44

WHAT?

This was no mere resuscitation. No one could claim Lazarus had simply emerged from an unconscious state. This was the restoration of a man’s decomposing body to complete health. Many that day witnessed Lazarus emerge from the tomb, still wrapped in the grave clothes stained from petrification. John does not record the amazement and joy and wonder that surely electrified Martha, Mary, and their friends, except to record that they broadcast the news around the region.

So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.

– John 12:17

Many believed, so many in fact that the Pharisees complained.

“…the world has gone after Him.”

– John 12:19

Was the reaction of the religious leaders to the miracle one of joy and worship of their Messiah? On the contrary, they convened a council and plotted the murders of both Jesus and Lazarus.

So from that day on they planned together to kill Him…But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

– John 11:53; 12:10-11

The Biblical record is silent on how Lazarus eventually died. We know, of course, Jesus went on to suffer death on a cross; not because the religious leaders trapped Him, but because He had come to Earth to pay this ransom for our lives. Before His death, Jesus visited Bethany one more time to see His friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. As they reclined together for supper, Mary did an amazing thing.

Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

– John 12:3

Nard was an expensive and fragrant perfume extracted from a plant from India. Judah Iscariot complained about the apparent waste of such an expensive perfume, but Jesus said,

“Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.”

– John 12:7

Was the anointing simply Mary’s act of devotion to her Lord?

Had she been directed by the Holy Spirit in a prophetic act speaking of His soon crucifixion? Or had she been paying attention when Christ had told the disciples of His impending death?

Perhaps all three. One thing is for sure. She would never see death as a permanent end, having witnessed the power of the Author of Life.