Night of the Living Dead

“Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.” (John 11:43)

I’m writing this the day before Halloween. Don’t worry. This isn’t going to be a research paper on the pagan history of the “devil’s holiday.” I’m not going to treat you to a telling of how the Jack o’ Lantern got its name or tales of the murderous early days of “All Hallow’s Eve.” I think you should hear about those things and decide what you’ll do with Halloween, but that’s not why we’re here.

Whether you’re a total abstainer from Halloween festivities or someone who digs all the dressing up and spookiness (and candy!) that comes with October 31, the holiday has become a fact of life in this country. You don’t have to participate to be surrounded by it. All your favorite TV shows seem to have special Halloween-flavored episodes. The kids canvasing your hood for candy are undeniably cute in their costumes. And every store is pitching little bags of M&Ms and “spook-tacular savings” at you. The day is part of our culture.

I think it’s a great day to remember a moment in Jesus’ life on earth when he showed God’s frightening power over death. If this story were told by some Hollywood filmmakers, it would be shot with lots of spooky effects (cue the ground fog), creepy sadness, and frighteningly ominous music. For some reason, we don’t usually read it that way. If we did, we might have a much healthier fear of our all-powerful God.

Jesus’ good friend Lazarus was seriously sick. Sick enough for his sisters Mary and Martha to risk sending a message to Jesus to let Him know about it. I say risk, because Jesus was a wanted man in the greater Jerusalem metroplex where these siblings lived. Last time He was there, the local religious leaders tried to stone Him to death. For Him to show up there might very well get Him killed. They knew that, but they loved their brother. So they risked exposing Jesus’ location and drawing Him back into the danger zone to ask the healer to come.

After getting the news, the disciples noticed that Jesus started acting strangely. First, he said Lazarus’ sickness would not “end in the death,” but that God and God’s Son would be glorified by it. (v. 4) Okay. Then Jesus just hung out where He was for two days without saying anything about it. Then, suddenly, He said He was go wake Lazarus up, even though Lazarus was already dead and even though it might get them all killed.

They’d heard Jesus say lots of things they couldn’t explain, but this one made less sense to them: risk all of their lives to go back when it was already too late to heal Lazarus. Did Jesus want to die?

It made even less sense when they got to town two days later. First, Jesus and Martha traded confusing words about “resurrection.” Was He seriously going to bring Lazarus back to life? If so, why did He cry so hard when He saw Mary and the others weeping over their dead friend? Why didn’t He answer more clearly when everyone kept saying He could have saved Lazarus if He hadn’t showed up so late?

When the emotional Jesus told them to remove the stone to the grave, Martha brought up a good point. Her brother had be decomposing for four days. Jesus missed the burial. This was going to be gross. But He asked her one of His hard questions, and they did what He said. (vv. 40-41)

Did you just get a little chill? I did.

Then Jesus prayed out loud for everyone to hear: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” Had He said something to God? Did they miss it? “I know that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” Oh.

Then he called out like He was talking to the open grave: “Lazarus, come out!”

I don’t know about the disciples, but I would have been freaked out. I wonder if any of them covered their eyes or got a sick feeling in the pit of their stomach. Was it joyful anticipation? Was it fearful dread? Was it both? No matter how sad you feel about someone dying, it’s got to be creepy to see him come hopping out wrapped in his burial clothes like something out of a nightmare. (I wonder if anyone screamed.) But it wasn’t a nightmare. It was real. It was impossible. It changed all the rules. If Jesus could do this . . .

I wonder if they looked at their friend and teacher in a way they never had before. I would have.

Did they hold their breath as the dead man was unwrapped? But Lazarus was just fine. He wasn’t a ghost or a zombie or a demon. He was simply alive.

Now Jesus had everyone’s full attention. You don’t mess around with someone who can raise the dead. You might fear Him a little, but you also believe what He says. Many of them did. I do.

Imagine that scene multiplied over and over on the night Jesus died (three days before He exited His own tomb): “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” (Matthew 27:52-53)

Talk about spooky! Talk about getting right with God if you were one of the people yelling “Crucify Him!” and then when He dies your dead uncle Joe comes over for lunch! Talk about you and me getting right with the one who has real power over real death and life this Halloween.

This year, I’m not going to be afraid of any of the little monsters that come to my door or even of the very real demons in the world who prowl around with Satan looking for people to devour. I mean, I’ll keep my distance, but I’m saving my healthy fear for the one who loves me -- and who can really raise the dead.

“The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” (Psalm 53:6)

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.’ ” (John 11:25)