by Prince Mathew
Preface for Meditation:
On this Saturday we remember how our Lord Jesus Christ raised His friend Lazarus
from the dead. He knew Lazarus was grievously ill, but He waited till he died
before He answered Martha and Mary's call for Him. Jesus knew that His own death
on the Cross was near. He knew how terrified and bewildered His disciples would
be, how they might doubt that He was indeed the Christ. Only after four days did
He bring Lazarus back to life, so that His disciples would see that He had power
over life and death and was indeed "the Resurrection and the Life." It was this
miracle that prepared the way for Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem and
gave us the certain assurance of the physical resurrection of all the dead.
Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary, the friends of Jesus, had given Him
hospitality and served Him many times (Luke 10:38-42; John 12:23). They were
from Bethany, a village of Judea. This village is situated in the eastern parts,
by the foothills of the Mount of Olives, about two Roman miles from Jerusalem.
When Lazarus — whose name is a Hellenized form of "Eleazar," which means "God
has helped"— became ill some days before the saving Passion, his sisters had
this report taken to Jesus, Who was then in Galilee. Nonetheless, He tarried for
yet two more days until Lazarus died; then He said to His disciples, "Let us go
into Judea that I might awake My friend who sleepeth." By this, of course, He
meant the deep sleep of death. On arriving at Bethany, He consoled the sisters
of Lazarus, who had been buried four days already. Jesus groaned in spirit and
was troubled at the death of His beloved friend. He asked, "Where have ye laid
him?" and He wept over him. When He drew nigh to the tomb, He commanded that
they remove the stone, and He lifted up His eyes, and giving thanks to God the
Father, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." And he that had
been dead for four days came forth immediately, bound hand and foot with the
grave clothes, and Jesus said to those standing there, "Loose him, and let him
go."
This is the supernatural wonder wrought by the Savior that we remember on this day.
Bible Reading Passages:
Saturday before Hosanna (Lazarus' Saturday)
Evening
Morning
Before Holy Qurbana
Holy Qurbana
Bible Verse of the Day:
"But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be
taken away from her." - St. Luke 10:42
St. Luke 10 : 38 - 42
St. John 11: 1 - 8, 11 - 27
Leviticus 27: 30 – 33
Great Wisdom 11:22-12:5
Isaiah 61:1-9
I Peter 2: 6-10
Ephesians 1: 15-2: 7
St. John 11: 28-46
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