ALIVE: Chapter 162, Death, the False Illusion

Instead of going into the heart of the walled city of Jerusalem, Jesus lead His men to the Jordan River. This time not to travel north but He took them back to the spot where He was baptized by John. Yes, baptism in the Jordan, like the dead rising out of the sea to the refuge of the Ark which is, was, and always will be the loving Father’s waiting arms. Like running on a track and reaching the beginning at the end, it was important for Jesus to return to His Baptismal font to talk with His men about the essential need for baptism. For a similar reason they had gone to Jericho. He wanted to close the loop that began during the intense 40 days alone with His Father when He was first told about His mission, when He relied only on the food and drink of the Spirit, and when He disregarded the pathetic offers of the devil.

It didn’t take long for the spiritually hungry people to find Jesus and His disciples at the Jordan River. Many of them had also been baptized by John there. Yet, of all the souls who repented and were reborn in baptism, none were as transformed as Jesus whose baptism marked His transformation from a young carpenter to a healer, miracle worker and itinerant rabbi. It was like the blossoming of a spiritual rosebud. For John the Baptist there was no healing of the eyes or ears, no paralytics walking, or lepers growing new faces; there was only surfacing from the river of death. The invisible repentance that brought each one a personal resurrection.

Esther, one who had been baptized by John too spotted Jesus and told her husband, “Hiram! Look there’s Jesus, the one who heals! The friend of Mary and Martha! Let’s go talk to Him!”

Hiram thought for a moment, and suddenly remembered something that sent shivers down his spine. “Esther?”

“Yes dear, what is it?”

“Remember the day we were baptized here?”

“Of course, how can I forget? That’s why we came back; to remember.”

“But, do you remember the sound of a voice from heaven, which sounded like, “This is My Son.”

“Yes.”

“Well, that was probably this Jesus! We didn’t know Him at the time. It was strange, and then He slipped away, but now I am putting it all together.”

“Oh my Hiram. You’re right! Could Martha’s friend, the One who heals be….” Esther couldn’t even say it, so Hiram boldly finished her sentence.

“The Son of God! The Messiah!”

Esther and Hiram look over at Jesus in the distance in awe. He seemed so normal, so human. He was not just a good teacher; He was a miracle worker, maybe because …He was…the Messiah!!!

Esther and Hiram walked over to Jesus and introduced themselves as Mary, Martha and Lazarus’ friend from Bethany.

“Nice to meet you. Yes, I love those people.’ said Jesus. “What brings you here?”

“It is our wedding anniversary and we wanted to renew our vows to God and to each other. So we made this short pilgrimage. It is refreshing to be by the river, isn’t it?”

They didn’t mention the Voice, but closed their introduction by saying, “We must be going. It was so good to meet you. God be with You.”

“And with you.” Jesus shook Hiram’s hand and the couple left Jesus with the multitude who also wanted to speak with Him.

Esther said, “He seems so normal, so human.” Hiram didn’t respond. He didn’t agree. He felt something in His presence that he couldn’t understand.

Esther and her husband returned to their home in nearby Bethany to tell their neighbors about Jesus. The first thing she did after settling down in her home was to go to visit Mary and Martha, to tell them about seeing Jesus, and to report to the ladies how well He looked. She didn’t dare mention their revelation; it was too outrageous.

“Come in! How are you Esther?” said Mary in a quiet and solemn voice.

Overlooking the tone, Esther replied excitedly, “Oh Mary, it was wonderful. The river looked so clear; I’ve never seen it so clean, and we saw Jesus there!  He was so calm. I gave Him your love.”

“Thank you,” replied Mary, “but things aren’t so good here. My brother Lazarus isn’t well. We aren’t sure what’s wrong with him. He coughs up blood! I am worried.”

“Oh my! I’m so sorry to hear that. I can send my husband back to Jesus to tell him to come here right away!”

“Oh Esther, would you? I mean do you think your husband would do that for us? Martha and I can’t leave him for a minute.”

“Of course, said Esther, I’ll tell him right now. Don’t worry, just pray my dear.” Esther gave Mary a quick hug, turned and quickly left the house to tell her husband.

Filled with panic Esther rushed home; being the Sabbath, Hiram was there relaxing when his wife rushed in.

“Hiram! Quick, you must return to where we saw Jesus. Hopefully He will still be there. Our friend Lazarus is very ill. He is coughing up blood and I’m afraid he will die unless Jesus comes to heal him! Will you go?”

Hiram, listening to Esther’s tone, didn’t dare refuse. “Okay, get me ready and I will go.”

“Take the ass, there’s no time for anything else.”

“No, I will see if Jacob will let me take his camel, that will be faster. I should get there by nightfall.”

“I just pray that Jesus is still where we saw Him.”

“Do you dare fret my dear? Stop that! Did Jesus teach you nothing about trusting the Lord?”

Esther ignored or didn’t hear Hiram’s rebuke while preparing a satchel for him to take.

The couple was so well synchronized that it wasn’t long before Hiram was on the road bobbing up and down on Jacob’s camel.

…

Hiram arrived in the dark, but spotted the campfire in the distance and people all around. It was familiar since he had only left the place two days earlier. When he got close, he slid off the tall camel, tied the reigns tightly to a tree, and rushed over to the fire, “Excuse me, excuse me, I must tell Jesus something important. Sorry, did I step on you? I’m sorry.”

Hiram weaved his way through the sitting people to the blazing fire near where Jesus was standing and teaching. He looked up at Hiram coming toward Him in great distress. “What is it brother? Calm down and tell Me.”

“Master, the sisters, Mary and Martha whom You love have sent me. They are in great distress. Lord, their brother, you know Lazarus?”

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “I know him very well. He is a great guy; we have had many good times together.”

“Well, sir, I have come to tell you that he is sick. Very sick! His sisters have sent me to let You know and ask You to come back with me and heal him. Will You? They think he will die if You don’t.”

Jesus listened attentively to Hiram, and then to the voice of His Father in His heart to understand the full story. After a few moments Jesus looked up at Hiram and said, “This sickness is not for death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified.”

“Well? Are you coming?” asked Hiram.

“Go back and tell them that you gave Me the message and to trust God.”

Hiram looked perplexed, but didn’t dare challenge Jesus.  “I will go in the morning.”

It was very dark and time to get the bedrolls out and sleep.

Simon, who overheard Hiram’s message, asked Jesus before they went yo sleep, “Well, are we going to Bethany in the morning?”

Jesus replied, “No.” in such an affirmative way that Simon didn’t dare question Him.

When Hiram woke up the next morning Jesus was no where to be found, so Hiram assumed that perhaps He had left for Bethany after all, so, he fed and watered the camel and headed back too, wondering how Jesus traveled since he thought He could ride on the camel with him.”

When Hiram arrived in Bethany, after dropping off the camel, he went straight to Martha’s house. Martha opened the door and was obviously quite distressed. “Where is He, did you find Jesus and tell Him?”

Hiram replied, “I thought He would be here. When I woke up, He was gone already. I told Him! I swear! He just told me to come back and trust God.”

Mary overheard and started to weep. She was exhausted from staying up most of the night putting cool compresses of water on the forehead of her brother to try to bring down the high fever.

“I’m sorry,” said Hiram, “there is nothing else I can do. Are you sure He isn’t here?”

Martha thanked Hiram and shut the door behind him. Then she turned to look at her sister in despair. Mary’s face was wet with tears and flushed. The sisters went back to the bed of Lazarus. Martha said, “Maybe there was nothing else Jesus could do too.”

The little family had another rough day together, napping in spurts while Lazarus moaned.

At dawn, Mary woke up in the chair where she fell asleep beside her beloved brother, to the fearful sound of his death rattle. She wailed and woke Martha up who was in the bed in the next room. Martha quickly sat up and went over to her brother and sister. She glared at the scene as if it wasn’t real, a nightmare perhaps. Lazarus was still and whiter than he had ever been. Mary was leaning over his body crying and crying. “Why oh why did this happen? He was so young and so strong, and so kind. How could he leave us? Who will provide for us, and take care of us? How I will miss taking care of him.” The looming feeling of abandonment and loneliness crushed her soul.

Martha was more practical in her reaction. She didn’t nurture such thoughts. She only knew that they must prepare for the burial. How fortuitous that they had all day to prepare before sunset.

Martha went to her sister and pulled her up close to hug her. Their hug was a stark contrast to the stillness of their dead brother on the bed.

Martha released Mary and said, “You start washing him, and I will go get the rabbi and let him know to prepare for the burial.”

Snapping out of her gloom, Mary nodded and went to get the bowl of water.

Martha quickly dressed, washed her face and headed out.

….

Most everyone in Bethany had attended the funeral. The ladies made food, and afterwards his best friends, strong and humble lads, laid poor young Lazarus in the tomb and rolled the stone in front. They all prayed and chanted and cried, then they went back to the family home to comfort the sisters and enjoy life together in his honor. It had been a intense day of fear, mourning, and love exposed.

Mary and Martha went to sleep that night with their heads spinning, not knowing why or what. “If only Jesus had been here. If only Jesus had been here. Why didn’t He come? Where is He? What was more important?” Neither Mary nor Martha, voiced these questions, but both thought them equally. They believed He loved them as much as they loved Him, and that He had the ability to heal their brother. Their minds ricocheted between grief and those haunting questions like a frenetic pin ball. The sisters fell asleep together in the bed where their brother’s warm and ailing body had passed away that morning. They wanted to feel as close to his previously warm living body as they could.

…..

Two mornings later, after Jesus returned from His time with His Father, He said to His men who were collecting wood, starting up the campfire, and packing their bedrolls, “Let’s head back into Judea today.”

Andrew was confused by that and said aloud, “Rabbi, the Jews over there were just trying to stone You. Remember how You escaped? Do You think You should go back there again…so soon?”

Jesus answered casually, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” and then went back to packing.

Andrew looked over at Peter who was near him with a furrowed brow and said in a low voice, “What does that mean? And what does that have to do with marching into the lion’s den?”

Peter answered, “I don’t know, let’s just get ready to go.”

Overhearing Andrew and Peter, Matthew spoke up. “I think it has something to do with when He said He is the light of the world. Maybe it was His way of saying that He knows what He’s doing, He isn’t walking in the dark. It’s okay.”

Andrew said, “Yeah, that makes sense. Well, okay, we’ll just see what happens.”

After everyone was packed and ready for their hike, Jesus came up with another surprising statement. He said, “Men, we are going to Bethany first. Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, and I need to go to wake him up.”

Thomas replied, “Master, ummm If Lazarus is sleeping won’t he wake up by himself. Why does he need us?”

A few chuckles echoed Thomas’ reply.

Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus is dead. I am glad for your sakes that I wasn’t there. I want you men to see the power of My Father, our God and His power over death. Now let’s go to Bethany.” Jesus didn’t say anymore, and by heading out, He conveyed that He wasn’t going to take any more questions.

Before Jesus got very far, Thomas spoke up, not about waking up Lazarus, but about returning to Jerusalem. He shouted, “Let’s also go, so we can be stoned too and die with Him.”

John said, “That wasn’t funny Thomas.”

With scant glances at each other for signs of their opinions over going to Lazarus and going back to Jerusalem, the men went into formation, walking in twos and threes and some on their own. There was no talking, just walking, praying and thinking.

By around high noon the following day the troop reached the outskirts of Bethany and was heading straight for Martha and Mary’s home. When they were a few miles away, Mary Magdalene spotted Martha in the distance coming towards them. “Look! There’s Martha!”

The men looked up and sure enough, Martha must have gotten the word that they were coming, so they picked up their pace as did Martha who was walking fast towards them.

When they met, Martha went straight to Jesus who gave her a consoling hug.

With a face drenched in tears from grief and also from the relief that His presence gave her, Martha cried, “Lord, if you had only come sooner, my brother would not have died.” Also implying by the tone in her grief stricken voice which said, “What kept you so long? Where have you been?” But for fear of offending Him again, she added, “Even now, I know that whatever You ask of God, He will give You.”

Jesus replied matter-of-factly, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus looked directly into Martha’s emerald green eyes and spoke to her soul, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, even though he dies, yet he will live.”

Martha wiped her face with her billowy gown and looked back at him with an expression that at the same time expressed her love, her faith, and her confusion. Such words were beyond her imagination.

After a pause to acknowledge her expression, Jesus continued, “Whoever lives and believes in Me will never die…. Do you believe this Martha?”

Fully recovered from crying, Martha pulled herself together and answered, “Yes Lord, I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God Who came into the world. I will go back and tell Mary that You’re here. Thank You!” Martha turned to hurry back containing the newly lit flame of hope in her heart. Mary Magdalene caught up and went with her.

“I love you Martha!” called Jesus as Martha was scurrying  back to her home so she could get Mary and the visitors prepared for His arrival. Walking as fast as she could while still appearing respectable Martha managed to get to her home in about a half an hour. She needed to tell Mary and then tidy up. Fortunately, since people kept bringing food to the house she had plenty to serve Jesus and His followers.

Martha arrive somewhat out of breath, “Mary, Mary! It was true! I saw Jesus and He is heading this way!”

Mary looked up expressionless, noticing Mary Magdalene behind her,  deeply grieved and disappointed that Jesus came too late. She said, “That’s nice.”

“NO! It’s really nice! Come here.” Martha led her sister to a place away from all the visitors who had come to console them because she didn’t want anyone to hear what she was about to say.

“I think Jesus can bring Lazarus back to life! Don’t you see! He came late on purpose to show us how we must have even more faith than we thought we had, and that we must be patient and TRUST. Our patience will be rewarded with an even bigger miracle than we hoped for Mary! He asked for you, come let’s go back and meet Him on the road!”

The other Mary added, “Trust Him.” and smiled warmly.

The two Marys and Martha walked out of the house, and a few of their guests followed assuming that they were going to the tomb to grieve more. Instead they walked briskly down the road that comes into their village. Martha noticed that they were walking farther than she thought they would have to. In fact, the more they walked, the closer they were getting to where she met Him before. Could He have stayed and waited for Mary to come?

“There He is!” exclaimed Martha who was the first to spot Jesus. When the sisters approached Him,  Mary fell down at his feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus saw her weeping, and behind her the Jews who came with her, also weeping. The sight of their deep grief over the loss of someone He too loved touched Him deeply so that Jesus groaned inwardly and was obviously upset.

When He composed Himself, He said, “Where have you laid him?”

One of the guests spoke up for the sisters who were weeping again when they saw how much He loved Lazarus too. He said, “Lord, come and see.” Martha led everyone to the tomb.

While they were walking to the tomb, one of the women nudged her companion and said in a low voice, “Couldn’t this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have healed Lazarus too?” The other lady shrugged her shoulders.

Several minutes later, the group spotted the tomb and walked reverently to it.

Jesus looked at the tomb as He too approached His friend deep inside and He groaned. The tomb was a cave, with a large stone leaning against its opening.

Jesus stopped and said to Peter, “Move the stone out of the way.”

Hearing that Martha said, “Lord, by this time the body is decaying! He has been dead four days!”

Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Peter said to his brother Andrew and Simon, “Come here and help me.” The men struggled to move the large rock.

The crowd looked into the dark cave, and took shallow breaths to prepare themselves for the stench.

Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You heard Me. I know that You  hear Me always: but for these people here I say this so that they will know that You sent Me.” Then Jesus shut His eyes to sense His Father, opened them again, and in a strong masterful voice, a sound, like the bellow of a bass trumpet, called, “Lazarus, come forth!”

All eyes were glued to the mouth of the cave, some in skepticism, others in expectation.

He only said it once.

Several minutes passed in utter stillness while all eyes were fixed on the dark opening. Even the birds overhead perched on branches waiting in reverence.

The first sound was that of a child giving voice to his breath in awe. Eyes wide to take it all in. The birds started chirping a song.

A tall man wrapped in cloth grave clothes, bound hand and foot; and his face too was bound with a napkin, hopped out of the deep darkness.

Two young ladies fainted and no one bothered to revive them. The witnesses were all paralyzed. What they saw with their eyes was unbelievable.

Martha and Mary standing beside Jesus, rushed up to their brother simultaneously in terror and delight. .

Jesus said, “Loose him, and let him go.”

The sisters and Mary Magdalene gently unwrapped him, his face first, speaking words of love. “Oh my dear brother, you are alive!” weeped Mary. The face that appeared under the cloth was beaming with surprise and relief.

“Give him water.” A young boy rushed over to the well, happy to have something busy to do.

Even the disciples were shocked. Jesus knew how important it was for them to witness this unveiled expression of the power of life over death. After that event there could be no doubt of the power of Jesus. He was who He said He was. The Son of God, Creator of heaven and earth. He was the Messiah.

And yet, this experience only baffled most of the witnesses.

In that crowd, most of the residents of Bethany, were like the Jews who after crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, having been delivered from centuries of tyrants, nevertheless found it in their hardened hearts to complain to God about food and water.

Many of those same people of Bethany who observed Lazarus rising from the dead also went to Jerusalem to observe the crucifixion with great expectation that once again Jesus would perform the impossible, they wanted to watch Him survive a crucifixion.