What Lazarus Saw

Written for Atakti's "The Lost Scene" competition, I expanded a verse in the book of John:







39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
 42 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.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

John 11: 39-44[/font]


     Then Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, cried out “It is Lazarus, who hath been four days in the grave!”  And they approached him and followed the command of Jesus to unbind him.  They unwound the wrappings and removed the veil from Lazarus’ eyes, and they did discard them into the fire.  
         Martha and Mary of Bethany trembled as they looked upon Lazarus who walked from the grave, and they prostrated themselves on the ground before Jesus where they wept tears in thanksgiving upon his feet.  The women wiped away their tears with their hair, and Jesus said unto them  “Arise, for the glory of God be upon you, and your brother hath been returned to you.”
       The women arose and set to washing the grave-dust from Lazarus, who had remained silent for this entire time.  Lazarus looked upon Jesus who met his eyes and saith unto him “Come, Lazarus,  let us walk together.”
     Lazarus touched his sisters with his hands upon theirs and saith “Martha and Mary, wait for me.”  And he took his place alongside Jesus and they began to walk amongst the garden.
     Lazarus turned to Jesus and said unto him “It is you, Son of Man.”
     And Jesus did reply “Yea, Lazarus, I am the Resurrection and the Light.”
     They continued to walk and Lazarus saith “I saw you there, where the sky had no sun, but was lit by the souls under the altar.  I walked across the fields of wildflowers and I did see-eth those departed before as if still in life.  It is you, and you are he, the God most High.”
      And Jesus replied “It is, as you have seen, Lazarus”
     Lazarus felt as if different since before he hath seen the grave, as though he no longer belonged in Bethany and questioned Jesus about this, saying also “I saw the children there, who had been passed through the fires of Ba’al, and they were full of life.”
     Jesus saith “Verily I say unto you, Lazarus, that you are changed and have seen what only those who follow me, have seen and will see when it is their appointed time.  You hath seen what lies beyond; your origin and your ending, and that none of us are of this world but that our home lies with the Father.  We pass through here but temporarily and what you feel is natural as the scales have fallen from your eyes. The children are as the others there—alive, though they have seen the grave of this world.”
     And Lazarus saith unto Jesus  “Then what shall I do, now?”
     And Jesus did reply “Follow me, Lazarus, and know that those who seek my life and will put me to death, will also seek yours.  They know not what they do and they are blinded to who I am.  Speak of me and the things I have done, and whilst your days may be wrought with strife, be of sound mind that ye shall surely be with me again, as you did see me, these four days.  The flesh shall be destroyed but the soul shall live evermore.”
     “Yea, Jesus the Christ, I shall keep your commands,” saith Lazarus, and they neared the end of their walk in the gardens.  
    “Go now, to your sisters, Martha and Mary of Bethany,” saith Jesus, “Thou hast a celebration to prepare for when the people hear of your return.”
     “Will thou joinest in the reception?”  Lazarus asked of Jesus
      And Jesus saith “I am with you, always.  Who will you say that I am?”  And they returned to where Martha and Mary were awaiting and to where the people had begun to gather.