How the Story of Lazarus Prepares You for Christ’s Passion

Perhaps you have heard the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, but do you know how connected it is to Christ’s Passion and Resurrection? Today, Dr. Sri explains the significance of Christ raising Lazarus from the dead and how it helps prepare us in a particular way for Christ’s Passion.

Snippet from the Show
Each of us must strive for confidence and humble abandonment when we speak to Christ in prayer.

The Fourth Day

It is an ancient Jewish belief that after a person died, their spirit would “hover” over the body for three days. On the fourth day, the spirit would leave and the person would be considered truly dead. Knowing this makes it very significant that Jesus raised Lazarus four days after Lazarus had died. It showed that Christ could raise a person even after they were “really dead.”

Lazarus, a Friend of Jesus

In John 11:3, Martha and Mary inform Jesus that “the one you love is ill.” And in John 11:11, Jesus says, ““Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” These two quotations tell us that Jesus loved Lazarus and that he considered Lazarus a friend. This becomes very significant when in John 15:13, in his farewell discourse, Jesus says, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Setting the Stage in Jerusalem

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, this caused a big shift in Jesus’ position with the sanhedrin in Jerusalem. He had now done an incredible miracle: raising a man from the dead on the fourth day. This put the sanhedrin on edge because around Passover it was already typical for there to be riots and uprisings. Rome would typically send more troops because of this. Therefore, the sanhedrin was concerned about Jesus coming into Jerusalem at Passover and the uproar it might cause. This is why Caiaphas says in John 11:49, “It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” Little did he know how accurate his prophecy was.

Upcoming Events with Dr. Sri

• Mar 22-23: St. Michael Parish Mission – Prior Lake, MN
• Mar 24-25: Archdiocesan Men’s Conference – Dubuque, IA
• Apr 13: Legatus – Denver, CO
• Apr 15: Diocese of Wichita – Couples Retreat – Wichita, KS
• Apr 19-20: St. Paul Center Priest Conference – Lakeway, TX