mnTW@The Death of Lazarus (He rises again)
"The Death of Lazarus" is a very famous story in the Bible.
Now, in the Coronavirus pandemic all over the world, we have to think about death in daily life.
So, I put my idea into this painting. And some of you might ask why some modern-day persons are in the biblical scene. The answer is in the Bible.
Jesus said," Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven." So, He means the earth has been connected to heaven through Him.
The Acts of the Apostles have ended with chapter 28.
But I think it still has been written in heaven. And God sends the message to us to repent from time to time.
I think the Coronavirus pandemic would be a message from God for that.
Therefore those modern-day persons in the biblical scene have our sense of nature.
Those Familiar persons help us to sympathize with the biblical scene.
Also, God gives mercy to us. The Gospel According to John chapter 11 verse 35 said that Jesus wept.
It is very short and has a very deep meaning. "The Death of Lazarus" was His plan for the Glory of God, and the Son of God glorified through it.
But He wept and groaned in the spirit and was troubled indeed, Why? I thought about that. Bethany was near Jerusalem at the stage of this painting.
Lazarus died sick four days ago. But Jesus was not there. He knew Lazarus was going to die.
So, Martha said to Jesus," If You had been here, my brother would not have died." Jesus said to her," Your brother will rise again."
He carried out this plan on schedule up until then. But, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she said the same thing.
When Jesus saw her weeping, He noticed that their brother's death gave the two sisters big trouble. And Jews who came with her wept too.
But they were in the employ of two sisters. So, there weeping was just an empty suit. Therefore Jesus groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
Two sisters were rich indeed. So, other Jews then complained about the two sisters.
"Why had the Lord taken life from their brother? It would be rather better that one of the two sisters passed away instead of him?"
The reason is they thought the two sisters were sinners. When Jesus heard whispers about two sisters, He again groaned in Himself.
Jesus said, "I created male and female as equal. And no one able to redeem sin but Me." But they could not understand the meaning.
Now Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone."
And villagers tried to take away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying, but they could not do that.
Then the big man came and moved it quickly. And Jesus lifted His eyes and said," Father, I thank You that You have heard Me"
Now when He had said this, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"
And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Lose him, and let him go."
And Jesus said to the big man who took away the stone which no one was able to move,
"I know your works. You put up your flag in Jerusalem. It was never seen before you have done.
So, see, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it, for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Now keep what you have so that no one may take your crown."
This painting represents the connection of Jesus with modern-day persons. This big man is very famous in the world.
Whether he keeps his crown or not, is dependent on his faith. God knows all.