Word of Life Church Podcast I, Lazarus
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Mar 22, 2026 A preacher explores the raising of Lazarus as the climactic sign with deep theological weight. He examines Jesus’ delay, grief, and the call that pulls one out of death. Art, ancient hymns, and imaginative reflection invite listeners to place themselves in the story. The sermon connects resurrection imagery to spiritual unbinding and the church’s role in accompanying those newly called.
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Lazarus As The Seventh Theological Sign
- John's Gospel structures seven miracles as theological signs pointing beyond the act to deeper meaning.
- Brian Zahnd frames Lazarus as the seventh sign showing Jesus as the one who defeats death, emphasizing theological weight over spectacle.
Why Jesus Wept Before Raising Lazarus
- Jesus weeps despite knowing he will raise Lazarus, showing divine foreknowledge paired with present compassion.
- Zahnd highlights the half hour Jesus stays with Martha and Mary to inhabit their sorrow rather than rush past it.
Reading Duccio's Lazarus Painting From Inside The Scene
- Zahnd walks through Duccio's 1311 painting to place listeners inside the scene, mapping where each figure looks and what that implies.
- He points out that Mary and Martha look at Jesus while the crowd looks at the tomb and Lazarus meets Jesus' gaze.