On Lazarus (an email to the chaplain)

[What] could have [Lazarus] felt about rising from the dead? Did it seem he just woke up from a long slumber? Was he grateful for the second chance in life? Did he fear dying a second time? Was his soul already in heaven and was just summoned back? It seems Jesus wept because He felt for the bereaved, not because His friend Lazarus died for He knew his soul was already at peace in heaven. Maybe He was also sad and sorry that He had to let Lazarus die. Perhaps He was sorry for He was about to bring a soul, who was already in heaven, back to earth to physically experience a second death. And maybe He was saddened that due to the stubbornness of man He had to allow His friends and family to suffer and grieve. Most of us, after all, so did some of His apostles for that matter, need to see to believe. 21 March 2007