Jesus, having come to the vault or cave (Fig. 8[1], p. 597), in which the body of Lazarus was laid, said: “Take away the stone!” Martha told Him that the body of her brother must be already putrid, knowing that he had been four days1 in the grave. Jesus said to her: “Did I not say to thee that if thou wilt believe[2] thou shalt see the glory of God?”[3] They then removed the stone.
And Jesus, lifting up His eyes, said: “Father, I give Thee thanks[4] that Thou hast heard Me[5]. And I know that Thou hearest Me always, but because of the people who stand about have I said it[6], that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me.”
Then crying out with a loud voice, He said: “Lazarus, come forth!”[7] And immediately he that had been four days buried , came forth, wrapped in the winding-bands[8]. And Jesus said: “Loose him, and let him go!”[9]
- ↑ Four days. When she realised that her brother had been already four days in the grave, and that the corruption of his body must have begun, Martha’s faith wavered, and she said to herself that he could not possibly be raised up. But our Lord’s word once more strengthened her faith.
- ↑ Believe. Jesus had not said explicitly, I will raise your brother up, but He had signified that He would do so by His words: “Thy brother shall rise again”, and again : “I am the resurrection and the life.”
- ↑ The glory of God. Manifested by the wonderful calling back to life of your brother.
- ↑ Thanks. Our Lord uttered this prayer of thanksgiving aloud, so that those who heard it might know' that the miracle which they were about to witness was not, as His enemies maintained, the work of the devil, but of the power of God; and that they might thereby be moved to believe in His divine mission.
- ↑ "Thou hast heard Me", said our Lord, for His prayer was granted the moment it was uttered. He, being One with the Father, granted as God that which He asked as Man.
- ↑ I said it. I have uttered this prayer of thanksgiving.
- ↑ Come forth! Imagine to yourselves what must have been the state of suspense of the on-lookers, as they peered into the open grave and heard this mighty command given to a mouldering corpse!
- ↑ Winding-bands. He was tied up, so that, naturally, he could not move or use his hands to undo for himself the bands in which he was swathed. That he stepped forth bound hand and foot was a scarcely less great miracle than his coming forth at all (St. Chrysostom). Think of the astonishment of the bystanders, and the joyful thanksgiving of the sisters!
- ↑ Let him go! This command proves that he could not move, or of himself remove his bonds.
