ACC ~ John 11 v44

THE COMING OUT OF A GUILTY CONSCIENCE

GREGORY THE GREAT Lazarus is bid to come forth, that is, to come forth and condemn himself with his own mouth, without excuse or reservation. In the same way, the one who lies buried in a guilty conscience may come forth out of himself by confession. MORALS ON THE BOOK OF JOB 22.15.31. [1]

[1] LF 21:573**.

COME OUT OF THE HIDING OF YOUR SIN

AUGUSTINE Do you wonder how it is that he came forth with his feet bound, but forget about the fact that after four days he rose from the dead? In both events it was the power of the Lord that operated and not the strength of the dead. He came forth and yet was still bound. Still in his burial shroud, he has already come outside the tomb. What does it mean? When you despise [Christ], you lie dead. … When you confess, you come forth. For what is to come forth, but to come out, as it were, from your hiding place and show yourself? But you cannot make this confession unless God moves you to do it, by crying with a loud voice, that is, calling you with abundant grace. But even after the dead man has come forth, he remains bound for some time, that is, he is as yet only a penitent. Then our Lord says to his ministers, “Loose him, and let him go,” that is, forgive his sins: “Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” [1] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 49.24. [2]

[1] Mt 16:19.

[2] NPNF 1 7:277-78**; CCL 36:431. See also his On Eighty-three Varied Questions 65 (FC 70:137).

UNBOUND FROM SIN

IRENAEUS Concerning Lazarus, who had lain four days in the tomb: In what [body did he] rise again? In the same, no doubt, in which he had also died. For if it were not in the very same [body], then certainly he who had died did not rise again. … “The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth.” This was symbolic of that man who had been bound in sins. And therefore the Lord said, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Therefore, since those who were healed were made whole in those members that had in times past been afflicted, and the dead rose in the identical bodies, their limbs and bodies receiving health, so also that life that was granted by the Lord who prefigures eternal things by temporal ones shows that it is he who is himself able to extend both healing and life to his handiwork so that his words concerning its [future] resurrection may also be believed. AGAINST HERESIES 5.13.1. [1]

[1] ANF 1:539*; SC 153:162-66.

THE CHURCH UNBINDS

AUGUSTINE So someone says, “What’s the use of the church, if you can confess, and be brought back to life by the voice of the Lord and come out immediately?” “What use is the church to you as you confess—the church to which the Lord said, ‘What you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven?’” [1] Look at Lazarus’s case. He came out, all tied up. He was already alive, by confessing, but he was not yet walking around freely, being still entangled with the bandages. So what does the church do, told as it has been, “Whatever you loose shall be loosed”? The church does what the Lord went on at once to tell the disciples, of course: “Unbind him and let him go.” SERMON 67.3. [2]

[1] Mt 18:18.

[2] WSA 3 3:216*; PL 38:434.

THE LAND OF DEAD PRAYER

ORIGEN Now, we ought to be aware that there are some Lazaruses even now who, after they have become Jesus’ friends, have become sick and died, and as dead persons they have remained in the tomb and the land of the dead with the dead who were later made alive by Jesus’ prayer. They were summoned from the tomb to the things outside it by Jesus with his loud voice. He who trusts in Jesus comes forth wearing bonds worthy of death from his former sins and still bound around his face, so that he can neither see nor walk nor do anything because of the bonds of death until Jesus commands those who are able to loose him and let him go. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 28.54. [1]

[1] FC 89:303; SC 385:86-88.

DEATH ITSELF CAST INTO AFFLICTION

BASIL OF SELEUCIA Lazarus appeared, resembling an impromptu trophy over death. He appeared without having left to Hades any of the burial wrappings. For, bound [in these], he came forth. His feet did not bear him, rather, grace provided him with wings. [1] Lazarus appeared, having left Hades behind mourning. As he put an end to the grief of [his] brothers, he cast death into affliction.

Seeing his kingdom destroyed and unable to prevent this, [death] lamented, crying, “What is this change in my affairs, what is this miraculous alliance of nature? The dead are returning to life, and the tombs have become wombs of the living. Alas, for these misfortunes! Even the tombs are faithless to me with regard to the dead, and the dead, although putrefying, are leaping out. They are all dancing in their swathing bands, mocking my laugh. Still mourned, they are going up toward those that mourn them. By showing themselves, they undo the tragedy, leaving me an heir to grief. Who is it who teaches the dead to challenge death? Who is it who is enlisting the deceased against death? Who is the One whose voice the prisons underground cannot support? Who is the One before whom the tombs tremble? He merely speaks, and I am not able to hold on to those whom I have in my power. Oh, in vain was I entrusted with a kingdom! Oh, in vain was I confident in an angry God! HOMILY ON LAZARUS 11-12. [2]

[1] See also earlier the imagery of Hesychius.

[2] AnBoll 104:183*.

LAZARUS’S SIP OF THE RESURRECTION

PETER CHRYSOLOGUS Pray, brothers, that we who have taken a sip of the resurrection with Lazarus offering the toast at Christ’s return may merit drinking the whole draft of the universal resurrection. SERMON 65.9. [1]

[1] FC 109:266.