"Raising of Lazarus"

by Dr. Larry Fraher, Ph.D.  |  03/25/2023  |  Images of Faith

Depictions of today’s Gospel are plentiful. Most present a motif where the viewer is seeing the events from outside of the tomb of Lazarus. The Saint John’s Bible illumination of the Raising of Lazarus, completed by Donald Jackson in 2002 as a part of the first hand-written and fully illuminated manuscript since the invention of the printing press offers a unique presentation of the story that both challenges and calls us to deepen our faith in Christ, and move toward a renewed sense of mission.

One may first notice the dark human figure in the foreground. This is Lazarus sitting up, and looking toward the entry of the tomb, now opened, light streaming inward. He is wrapped in burial bands which flow to the margins of the image. A Death-Head Moth, named for the skull-shaped pattern on its back, hovers nearby. Angels, presented in the original in gold leafing, swirl about the dead man as he arises. Christ stands at the entry to the tomb, behind Him is a swath of gold leaf, indicating, as with the angels, Divine presence and action. Inscribed in gold against the background of darkness in the tomb, are the words of Christ to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).

The unique perspective of the viewer of this image is profound. Viewers are placed in the tomb with Lazarus. We are behind him as Christ calls for him to arise and come forth. We share the same fate with Lazarus; our destiny is the tomb. In this manner, Christ is also calling each of us to respond and come forth, so that, like Lazarus, we might receive life from Him. This action will not be just in the future, as Martha suggests, but here and now: today! This brings forth another aspect of the story. Recall Martha’s response when Christ tells the people to roll the stone away, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” (John 11:39) Christ pays no heed to Martha’s fears, and her brother is raised.

This Gospel and this image challenge us to see Christ as the one who gives us life in all things and calls us to open ourselves to the grace and possibilities of God’s action not just in a distant future, but right now, right here, in this moment! The image challenges us. Am I, in this time of preparation for Easter, willing to see myself in the tomb with Lazarus? What aspects of my life do I need for Christ to call forth from the tomb? The image calls us, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic: Do I believe that Christ is able to make things happen in the present moment or do I constantly put God’s work off into the future? Do I see the work of God as something that doesn’t affect my life now, but that I hope for when I die? Have I put people into ‘tombs,’ declaring them dead in my life? Do I protest, even to Christ, when he calls me to roll the stone away?

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