Resurrection: I Didn't Ask For This

Next week, ABC premiers its much advertised series, Resurrection, beginning with a boy, Jacob, who returns home after being dead 30 years.  Unlike Rip Van Winkle, though who aged as he slept, Jacob is still the eight year old boy he was when he drowned.

Already, even before the pilot airs, people have been posting negative comments about the show and it's plot line.

So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. - John 12:10-11

In today's Gospel reading from John, we discover that returning from the dead can bring with it a hefty share of problems.  Do you think Lazarus wanted to be hounded by gawkers and marked for death?

I find it odd that we don't know more about what the people experienced, those who were raised from the dead in The Bible, that is.  Oh, yes, Lazarus wasn't the only one, and he wasn't the first.

Elijah raised a boy from the dead, the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24).

There was the Shunamite boy (2 Kings 4:20-37) who was raised by Elisha.

Then there was the poor dead man in the process of being buried who was simply tossed in the tomb when raiders approached. (2 Kings 13:21)

Luke tells us in chapter 7, versus 11-16, that Jesus raised a boy who was being carried in a funeral procession.

Mark gives us an account of Jairus' daughter being raised (Mark 5:35-43).

In Acts (9:36-41), we encounter Tabitha, raised by Peter, and (20:7-12) Eutychus raised by Paul.

And Matthew (27:51-53) gives us an account of many being raised from their tombs during the earthquake at the moment of Jesus' death.

So, where are the stories of these people after they returned to life?  John is the only one who gives us a glimpse at life after death in this brief account of Lazarus' fame.  Of course, people would have come from all around to see the dead man walking and talking and living among them.

I wonder if it got to be too much.  Did he run away and hide or go off somewhere to pray for peace and solitude?

Time after time, we hear Jesus tell his disciples not to tell anyone what they have seen.  When they failed to listen to him, the crowds would gather, wanting to get close to this healer and miracle worker.

So, here is the question, if you could come back, would you want to?

I know the question makes little sense, since we have no idea what we would be leaving to return, but I wonder what those who did know felt.  For poor Lazarus, his return put his life in danger.  In most of the instances mentioned, the return was not for the dead person, but for the grieving parent or family members.  It makes me wonder if we are being selfish here.

Would you call a beloved family member back?

I guess it all depends on one thing.  Faith.

More to come...



Image Credit: http://oca.org/saints/lives/2014/04/12/19-the-raising-of-lazarus-lazarus-saturday