Church of St. Lazarus

When a person died in Jesus' time, their body was placed in a tomb.  Tombs had two rooms, an outer room often with a bench like space on which the body would be laid and an inner room where niches were located.  

To ensure that a person was actually dead, their body was placed in the outer room for three days.  If the person was actually dead, by the third day the body would smell, confirming the person's death and it was at that point that the body would be moved to the inner room and placed in a niche.

Bethany was the home of the Lazarus, Mary and Martha.  Jesus spent quite a lot of time with their family.  Jesus often stopped at their home and offered His blessings to the family who went to great lengths to help the poor.

Lazarus had been unwell and Mary and Martha had sent for Jesus as they were certain that He would heal Him.  Jesus did travel to their home, but by the time Jesus and His disciples arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days.  

When Jesus arrived, He said, “Your brother will rise again. I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  

Jesus said, "Take away the stone.  Lazarus, come out!” And he did.  Jesus said,  “Unbind him, and let him go.”  If Jesus was to come on the first, second or third day, people may have scoffed and said that Lazarus' return from the dead was coincidence or luck.  By raising Lazarus on the fourth day, Jesus proves that He can raise people from the dead.

Is your faith alive and well or does it need to be revived?