Lazarus, Grief, and Time
In last Sunday’s lectionary reading, Jesus’ friend Lazarus died. Jesus wept. Then Jesus called in a loud voice for Lazarus to come out, and he did.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” This miracle caused many to believe in Jesus. But not all. The religious leaders were jealous of Jesus, and they plotted to kill him. You can read the whole story from John chapter 11 here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2011&version=NIV
In my mixed media illustration, Jesus majestically calls Lazarus out of the grave. Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha are bent over in grief, weeping. Their grief turns to wonder and amazement when Lazarus comes out. May we follow the example of these women, rather than that of the religious leaders, and not be blind to the miracles around us.
Yet Mary and Martha experienced the trauma of their brother’s death. I wonder if this trauma was instantly removed when Jesus raised Lazarus? Did this trauma come back when their dear friend Jesus suffered a cruel death on the cross?
Was it all healed when Jesus rose from the grave?
I suspect not. I suspect it must have felt like whiplash—going from death to life twice in quick succession. It may have taken a while for the joy and relief to sink in. Even after Jesus rose from the grave, life was not easy for his followers. Yet the Lord gave them enough grace and love to hold on, to hope and trust that God is good, and that God is at work for good.
We carry grief in our bodies, and our bodies remember grief even when we are not thinking about it. When I experienced a deep loss, it was hurtful to be told by some people, to get over it.
Thankfully, I soon went to a writer’s workshop by author Madeleine L’Engle, who wrote the book, A Wrinkle in Time. Madeleine knew that God is outside of time and that God steps into time, and that there will be a time when all will be redeemed.
I shared my story with Madeleine L’Engle.
She said to let the grief take all the time in the world.
Those good words were comforting.
I also find it comforting that Jesus wept in this story. Jesus shares our joys, and he shares our sorrows. This calls to mind an Old Testament verse about the LORD’s care and kindness:
In all their affliction he was afflicted,
and the angel of his presence saved them;
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. (Isaiah 63:9)
May We know God’s loving presence is with us no matter what, and that he suffers with us when we suffer. He doesn’t tell us to get over it. He helps us through it.
He even carries us.
Aho! May it be so!*
*These are the words for “Amen” in the First Nations Version of the Bible
Did your sense of time change when you were grieving?
How did God step in?