Lazarus Part 1 - Mary

John 11:17-21,28,29

Jesus the Resurrection and the Life

 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died...

 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him.

Mary stayed at home

the better to nurse her wrath

Knowing that as soon as she saw him,

Jesus, the beloved,

she would cave as she always did

She needed solitude

to stoke the fires

of her anger and self pity

She needed to be alone

to add fuel to her resentment.

But she couldn't hold out

once Jesus got there

She couldn't resist the pull

of his charisma

She had to shake off her fury

and go to him - 

To confront him?

To accuse him?

Who knows?

But once he was near

She could not stay away.