Homily 58 #

On the Saturday of the Sixth Week of Lent, on the Resurrection of Christ’s Friend Lazarus: a Homily by John Chrysostom.

Behold, this is the radiant forerunner of the triumph of Christ’s Resurrection. Behold, the remembrance of Lazarus shines forth, revealing the wonders of Christ. The image of Lazarus’ four-day resurrection bears the fruit of Christ’s three-day Resurrection. This Lazarus became a second Forerunner to those who sat in darkness. He became the first enemy of Hades’ destruction.

Today Christ has filled the whole world with the wonders of His power. Today Christ has broken the power of death by raising Lazarus after four days, prefiguring His own Resurrection. Today the Jews gathered at the tomb of Lazarus under the guise of obedience, that seeing His divine power, and His authority over both the living and the dead, they might believe in His Resurrection.

Christ departed into Judea so that Lazarus’ death might come about without Him present—lest they say, “He bewitched him to sleep and then raised him again.” But rather, they should become eyewitnesses of his death, and burial, and resurrection. As the Evangelist says: “Lazarus was sick in Bethany, whom Jesus loved” (John 11:1, 3).

Then his sisters sent word to Jesus, saying: “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.” But Jesus said: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God” (John 11:3–4). And Jesus remained two more days in that same place, in order to reveal a greater miracle to His disciples and to the Jewish people.

But see the faith of those women! They did not go to magicians, nor to physicians, nor did they seek out remedies to help the sick man—for all that is vanity—but they sent to the Healer of souls and bodies, the One who can raise the dead and bring low, save and destroy. And they said: “Behold, Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick,” as though to say, “Lord, whatsoever Thou wilt, Thou canst heal.”

Jesus said to them: “This sickness is not unto death, but that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” O, marvelous compassion of the Lord! Not only did He not come at once to heal Lazarus, but He even delayed four days after his death, to show a greater miracle—changing stench into fragrance.

Jesus said to His disciples: “Lazarus our friend sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep” (John 11:11)—showing both His love and His power over all. The disciples said: “Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.” But once again Christ advanced to break the dominion of death, once again gathering the Jews for a miracle, and once again stirring His disciples to faith.

Already He wishes to give the image of His own Resurrection. Already He seeks to break the bolts of death. Already He calls Adam to joy through Lazarus, saying unto him, “Awake, thou that sleepest” (Ephesians 5:14). Already our Redeemer is come, desiring by the Cross to defeat the devil and to destroy death.

He came then to Bethany, where Lazarus had died, and was met by Martha weeping, who said: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (John 11:21). But Mary sat at home. And Jesus said to her: “Thy brother shall rise again.” Martha said to Him: “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” And again she said: “I believe, Lord, that whatsoever thou wilt, thou canst do.”

O, what faith in that woman! O, what tender love for her brother! Weeping, she said: “I know that Thou art the Resurrection and the Life, the Light that never sets, and the Renewal of the fallen.”

And Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus, and as though not knowing, asked: “Where have ye laid him?” The Jews, having heard, gathered in countless number at the tomb, desiring to see.

Jesus came and commanded the stone to be rolled away from the grave, and He wept over him. Martha and Mary said: “Lord, by this time he stinketh, for he hath been dead four days.” But Jesus said: “Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:39–40).

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven and said: “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.” And when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice: “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:41–43). And immediately the dead man rose and came out.

For who can stand against the command of God? Or what bonds can hold back the life-giving word? Now the lawless Jews breathe out envy. Now death is caught in a net. Now the enemy grieves, about to receive an incurable wound. Now the dominion of Hades perishes.

O, wondrous things! It is right to praise the Lord, but the Jews conspire to kill Him. O, hardened hearts of the scribes! Were ye made teachers only to slay the Lawgiver? Have ye risen up against Him because He delivered you from bondage in Egypt? Is it for this ye wish to kill Him—because He led you through the Red Sea and fed you forty years in the wilderness?

Is it now that ye scheme to betray Him, when He raises the dead and heals all infirmities? When He gave you manna from heaven and brought water from the rock—then ye praised Him. Have ye no shame, ye workers of iniquity?

It is fitting to give Him praise and honor, yet ye seek to slay Him instead of offering thanksgiving. But we, having rejected the madness of the Jews, let us praise Lazarus, the friend of Christ:

Lazarus, vessel of the Holy Spirit;
Lazarus, the flourishing branch of Christ’s garden;
Lazarus, spiritual fountain of the grace of God;
Lazarus, second Forerunner to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death;
Lazarus, destroyer of the power of Hades;
Lazarus, image and forerunner of Christ’s three-day Resurrection;
Lazarus, accuser of the Jews;
Lazarus, confirmation to many.

When the people saw him, raised from the dead, they believed in Christ and gave great honor to the Creator: some spread garments in the way, others cut down branches from trees, and with children cried out: “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!” (John 12:13)

To Him be glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.