Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Do you know who first called death “The Big Sleep”? Raymond Chandler wasn’t first, but he made it famous in a 1939 hardboiled mystery novel and film.

Guess what! Jesus used the metaphor centuries earlier. In John 10, two days after Lazarus was reported sick, Jesus said, “He is sleeping. I think I’ll go wake him up” (v 11). 

The disciples said, “If he’s sick, he needs sleep. It’ll help him get better” (v.12). 

Jesus said, “Lazarus is dead. Let’s visit and see what faith can do” (v 14-15). 

Doubting Thomas said, “Good idea. Let’s go die with Lazarus” (v 16).

Sure enough. When they arrived, Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days. Jesus said to Martha, “Your brother will rise again” (v. 23). 

Martha replied, “Well, yes, in the distant future when all the dead are raised. But that’s not much help today” (v 24). 

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. I’m helpful today” (v 25). 

Was this a helpful response to Martha, while she was grieving her dead brother, remembering that she too was on the road to the Big Sleep? 

Lazarus’ other sister, Mary, said to Jesus, “Lord, if you’d been here, my brother wouldn’t have died” (v 32). 

Jesus said, “Show me the tomb” (v 33). 

There they rolled away the stone from the entrance, releasing the stench of death. Jesus said to the stinking body, “Lazarus! Come out!” 

He did.

Jesus said, “Take off his grave clothes and let him go” (v 44). 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, as you journeyed toward the cross, Lazarus foreshadowed your death and resurrection. We still hear your words to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.” But what does that mean for us as we journey toward our last and lasting sleep? 

For Lazarus it meant release from his tomb and decomposing grave clothes. For Mary and Martha, it meant a restored family in the present, not just a distant resurrection at the end of the world.

As we live in our dying bodies, we believe you give eternal life. When we attend funerals, we trust in a future resurrection. When we lower a coffin, we believe you overcame death. And we believe that whether we live or sleep, you give eternal life. 

Amen.

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.

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