Lazarus

It all started with a phone call. "Your grandma is not doing well. You probably should go see her as soon as you can. We'll meet you there." I panicked a little. This particular grandma was my dad's mom. Growing up, she would cook tons of food and feed us until we about burst. When our family would go visit, we'd stay up late chatting with my grandpa, and then around 5am, grandma would be up banging around in the kitchen. We'd raise our sleepy heads (their house was small, so we slept in every nook and cranny available), and she'd say, "Oh, you're up!" and then proceed to make coffee. As adults, my brothers and I would spend long weekends at her house. By that time, grandpa had passed away, and grandma spent her days going to dialysis and chatting with friends on her front porch. We'd play games and laugh until we cried, and grandma would sit in her chair and just watch us, and sometimes laugh with us. She was old school, so when we would say, "I love you, grandma!" she's say, "Okay" in her southern drawl. One of the last times I saw her at her house, I hugged her as I was leaving and said my usual, "I love you, grandma!" And she shocked me by saying, "I love you too." I could not believe it. As I was pulling out of her driveway, I burst into tears. I knew my grandma loved me, but just hearing her say it filled my heart with joy. 

My grandma died on Black Friday in 2010. We got there in time to see her and talk to her. When she breathed her last, it didn't really hit me. When we made funeral arrangements, it didn't hit me then either. During the viewing and funeral, I still couldn't wrap my head around it. But when the pall bearers walked her out to the hearse, it finally happened. My beloved grandma was gone. Cars pulled off the road on the way to the cemetery, which made me cry even more. They didn't know my grandma, but they respected those of us who did, and respected her in death. 

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were close personal friends of Jesus. So when the sisters sent word to Jesus about Lazarus' condition, they were sure He would not let them down. They truly believed if Jesus arrived, He would be able to heal Lazarus. But their hope was shattered when Jesus did not come. And when Jesus arrived four days after Lazarus was laid in the tomb, their hearts were broken. Jesus had a plan in place for raising Lazarus from the dead. He was going to use this time to glorify His Father. And it would cause dissension among the Jews who did not believe in Him, pushing along the plots to kill Him. But when he saw the sisters, and heard the grief in their voices, he was deeply moved. And in John, chapter 11, the shortest verse in the Bible is found: "Jesus wept." Even though He was going to bring Lazarus back from death, He loved Lazarus so much He wept for him. I truly believe His weeping was for the sisters as well, and their profound grief at losing their brother. But I'm sure the weeping turned to pure astonishment and joy when Jesus said, "Lazarus, come out!" and out walked their brother, alive and well.  

Mary and Martha grieved for Lazarus as ones with no hope. Their faith had been rocked by Jesus' delay. But He restored their faith and brought back the one they loved. And when Lazarus' final time came, I'm sure they knew they would see him again, fully restored and healthy. 

I miss my grandma. But I don't miss her as one who has no hope. My grandma accepted Christ as her Savior, so I know she is in Heaven. No more dialysis. No more back pain. No more weakness. I can't wait to see her again, and give her a hug and tell her I love her.