10/01/2024
I really had fun engineering this Lazarus series, designed to walk through the entire Lazarus story in five pieces of art:
"If Thou Hadst Been Here," with Jesus weeping and comforting Martha.
"My Brother Had Not Died," with Jesus comforting Mary.
"Thy Brother Shall Rise Again," with Jesus entering the tomb to see the body of Lazarus.
"Lazarus, Come Forth," Depicting Lazarus gasping his first breath as Jesus calls him back to life, and
"Lazarus Reunion," depicting Lazarus gratefully embracing Jesus after being raised from the dead and being reunited with his sisters.
More than almost any other story in the new testament, there is so much emotion conveyed in the text. I've seen so many artistic depictions that focus so much on the sobriety and sacredness of the miracle (and understandably so), that I thought we needed some of the rawness that is clearly displayed in the text--the humanness alongside the astounding miracle.
It's the one place in Jesus's mortal life that it it clearly states, "Jesus wept." Jesus knew what He was about to do. I don't think he was crying for Lazarus, because He knew what was about to happen. But Jesus loved that family profoundly, and their pain was His pain. Their suffering was His. He was touched by their sorrow—and likely pricked by their deep disappointment in Him.
What a day that must have been! And what a show of love from the Savior.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChristianArtExpo