Last Sunday, you will remember the Gospel reading was the story of the healing of the man born blind – a miracle that broke the Mosaic law for Jesus had healed him on the Sabbath.   Today we have heard an even greater miracle – The raising of Lazarus of Bethany from death.   Perhaps we need to remind ourselves that Jesus had a special relationship with Martha and Mary and Lazarus for they were well known to Jesus and it would seem that their`s was a home that Jesus was accustomed to.   He would very likely have staid there when going up to Jerusalem for annual feasts, in obedience to the Law of Moses.   At the beginning of the reading we are told that this Mary was the one who had anointed Jesus with precious ointment of nard and dried his feet with her hair.   These were close friends almost like family.   Just as Mary and Joseph and the Holy Child, when going up to the Temple from Nazareth, would have stayed with Mary`s kinswoman Elisabeth and her priestly husband Zechariah at Ein Karem, so,  later in life Jesus would have gone to Bethany.   It was a home away from home where he could relax and likely enjoy being waited on with hospitality.
Jesus was, likely as not in Capernaum, his adopted town and the centre of his ministry, when he received the urgent message from the sisters Mary and Martha, `Lord, the man you love is ill.`   We might think that with the shock of the news Jesus would have gathered a few things for the journey and set off immediately for Bethany.   But no!   Jesus decides to wait awhile – two days before saying to the disciples, `Let us go to Judaea` after which he is warned by the disciples saying, `Rabbi, it is not long since the Jews wanted to stone you;  are you going back again ?`   A little later Jesus says, `Our friend Lazarus is resting, I am going to wake him.`   They of course think that Jesus meant Lazarus was sleeping and said, `Lord, if he is able to rest he is sure to get better.`   But then, Jesus makes the situation plain, `Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there because now you will believe.   But let us go to him.`    Why has Jesus delayed, surely, he should have gone straight away to condole with Martha and Mary whom he loved as much as Lazarus.   But no, there was no point in rushing for the Lord had already realised that Lazarus had died.   The delay was both to reveal the fullness of His love and to give a sign.
When Jesus and, I guess, many of the disciples, for we had that reference to Thomas suggesting that all should go with Jesus from Galilee to Bethany -  and that would have taken a couple of days.   We are further told that many Jews, friends and neighbours, had gathered for the post-funeral wake to show their respect for Lazarus and to sympathise with the sisters.   By the time Jesus and companions has arrived at the edge of the village Lazarus had been four days in the tomb.   Martha, ever the busy one dashed off to meet Jesus as soon as she heard that he was very near leaving her sister Mary sitting in the house.    The friendship of Jesus and his teaching had not been lost on Martha for on seeing Jesus her greeting was, `If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.`   The response: `Your brother will rise again.`   Bearing in mind the earlier story of Martha and Mary we can only be surprised at Math`s response, for she said, `I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.`   Jesus answers with another of his great “I AM” sayings, `I am the resurrection and the life.   If anyone believes in  me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever believes in me will never die.   Do you believe this ?`   And Martha`s stupendous response: `Yes, Lord I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world` - In other words, “The Messiah who was prophesied from old.   Full of hope Martha  quickly, presumably sending  a message,  since she remained outside of the village with Jesus, to tell Mary that Jesus  the Master wanted to see her.
Mary, who had anointed Jesus, tearfully threw herself at the Lord`s feet as soon as she saw him and uttered those very same words that Martha had said, `Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.`   Of course Jesus was greatly moved to tears and in great distress wanting to know where Lazarus was buried.   Seeing the Lord`s tearful and emotional response the Jews gathered at the wake said, `See how much he loved him!`   Others referred back to the Lord`s  healing of the blind man asking why he could not have prevented the death of Lazarus.   They were about to get the surprise of their lives!   Still sighing in grief at the loss of his friend Jesus then went with the sisters and others to the tomb – a stone-sealed cave, as was common in the area, and Jesus asked that the stone be removed and the ever practical Martha responded, `Lord by now he will smell;  this is the fourth day.`   How sanitized this accurate but modern translation is!   The Authorized Version, also known as the King James Version puts it this way:  `Lord, by this time he stinketh:  for he hath been dead four days.`
Jesus lifted up his eyes and prayed thanking his Heavenly Father for always hearing his prayer and adding:
`But I speak for the sake of all these who stand around me, so that they may believe it was you who sent me.`

It was only then that Jesus shouted out, `Lazarus, here!   Come out!` Following the Saviour`s loving command he came out swathed in the grave clothes and to those about him Jesus said to them, `Unbind him, let him go free.`   Many who saw and heard what he did became believers.

Here has taken place just one of those grave openings which Ezekiel prophesied in today`s first reading.   No wonder many people were brought to faith in Jesus.
Many have asked what happened to Lazarus after the death and resurrection of Jesus.   The most likely is that he became an apostle to the Cypriots for there is considerable evidence that he was Bishop of Larnaca where he was buried.   Though, it is said, that Western Crusaders to the Holy Land disinterred his body for relics and that most of his body was finally buried in Marseilles.   Another tradition has it that he and his sisters Martha and Mary preached the Good News of Jesus Christ in Gaul, what is now France, and indeed worked in Marseilles.

Years ago I was leading a pilgrimage and holiday to Cyprus and we visited the Cathedral of St. Lazarus in Larnaca.   There is a lovely icon there of the raising of Lazarus with one or two watching Lazarus coming out of the Tomb at Bethany and one pinching his nose!   `Lord, by this time he stinketh:  for he hath been dead four days.`