How Lazarus Was a Dead Man Walking
Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash
The term “dead man walking” refers to a person who is as good as dead. Their life hasn’t physically ended, but the person is in a death-like state.
They used the expression on death row in prisons when a convict walks from their cell to the death chamber. A movie about the execution of a rapist and murderer made this term popular with this title. But was also the title of a poem by Dylan Thomas, who spoke of his life as “the corpse-thing I am today.”
The popular Christian singer, Jeremy Camp, wrote a song with this title describing his life before his spiritual rebirth. His song captures the state of the convict on death row and the person who feels dead inside their living body.
With all that’s gone on over the past two years, it’s not hard to relate to the concept of a “dead man walking.” The impact of fear, isolation, economic woes, and so many thousands of deaths.
The fear of infection with Covid-19 feels like a death sentence for many people. The virus brought death for far too many thousands. Even with vaccines and treatments available, the fear of infection lingers for many people. This fear isolates and imprisons them.
Aside from Covid, many people live with a fear of death for various reasons (Heb 2:15). Far too many people live without hope. They live a subdued and death-like existence. The reasons are myriad.
Dependence on medications (prescribed and illicit) often results in a zombie-like condition without emotion or drive. They live without hope.
Read through John 11:1-37 again, before you read the text below. It’s important to grasp how deep the grief of these sisters was to appreciate how amazing this whole story is!
Scripture
When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who were crying with her, he was deeply moved and troubled. So Jesus asked, “Where did you put Lazarus?” They answered him, “Lord, come and see.”
Jesus cried. The Jews said, “See how much Jesus loved him.” But some of the Jews asked, “Couldn’t this man who gave a blind man sight keep Lazarus from dying?” [vss 33-37]
Deeply moved again, Jesus went to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone covering the entrance. Jesus said, “Take the stone away.”
Martha, the dead man’s sister, told Jesus, “Lord, there must already be a stench. He’s been dead for four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you would see God’s glory?” [vss 38-40]
(John 11:33-40 GW)
Photo by Chris Boese on Unsplash
Reflection...
We all need hope. Hope enables us to see beyond daunting circumstances, even death. But we need a hope that is certain. A hope born of trust.
This is one important lesson I draw from the story of the resurrection of Lazarus. It’s an illustration of what was to come next in John’s Gospel story, and what is yet to come for all those who trust in the Lord.
We’ll explore this more next post (a new year!). But for now, consider the state of mind of Martha and Mary. Both sisters mourned the death of their brother Lazarus.
Martha had a hope in a resurrection from the dead and trusted in Jesus as her Messiah—her Savior. And yet, she laments, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Mary doesn’t seem to have the same hope as her sister. Overcome with grief, Mary can’t see beyond her brother’s death. But there is hope for Mary. She will believe in the resurrection soon.
And Lazarus? Lazarus is dead. He’s been in the tomb for four days. But again, there is reason to hope.
In the next installment of this story, we’ll look at an extraordinarily miraculous sign. It becomes a turning point in the life of Jesus, as well as for Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.
For this new year—
May your hope and trust be in the One who alone has power over sickness and death for eternity.
©2021—Word-Strong
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