Lazarus

The seventh and final account of the 'signs' in the Fourth Gospel begins with an introductory line: "Now, a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany." The name means 'God has helped' or 'God is my help'. He lived in 'Bethany'. One of its meanings is 'house of affliction'. "Master, the one you love is ill" was the message his sisters conveyed to him through a messenger -an intermediary. He is somewhat far away and in hiding at the moment. Even though the intercessory prayer of the sisters had reached his ears, he deliberately delayed his departure. And finally when he arrived, it was four days since the burial!

"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" is exactly the same line that his sisters, Martha and Mary, had to say.

He had "come in search for the sick". However, despite the prayers for the one who was ill, the doctor was late in arriving. Therefore, many people were in pain and were weeping. That is what makes him perturbed and into weeping!

Lazarus, ill with sin, who sunk into death because the Lord was away, and now had been buried for four days, yet was one had God for his help.

"The one you love" is how they speak about this sinful mortal. 'Love is in sacrificing one's life for one's friend'. Indeed. In the end, we will find that the doctor had to sacrifice his life for the sake of giving life to his dead friend!