Lazarus

A conversation in a tomb in Bethany between a dead man called Lazarus and an angel – but, unfortunately, we only have a record of Lazarus’ side of the conversation.

Some wings you’ve got there… will mine be like that? For reference, blue’s my colour.

What do you mean, ‘no wings’? I’m now dead and I wasn’t that bad and I believe in God… AND I was best mates with Jesus, so surely I can have at least just a teensy-weensy pair?

And what do you mean, ‘no I can’t because I’m going to live again?’

Ah… Right. Got it.

Bit of an experiment, is it?

OK, tell God, I’ll do it and that I’ll let Jesus bring me back to li-

What do you mean, ‘it’s not up to me’?

Oh.

OK.

He’s the boss.

So, it’s not enough for me just to die once, then - I’ve got to do it all again some day? But, hey, it won’t be so bad next time, will it? Oh no, all this dying malarkey won’t be such a big deal second time round… ‘forewarned, forearmed’, etcetera, etcetera…

You do realise His Son promised me eternal life in Heaven? ‘Course you do. For now, though, it’s back to life per normal and tilling and hoeing a field of stones in the scorching sun, eh?

Can’t wait.

You got any scran? Oh, I forgot - you lot run on fresh air and Holiness.

Sorry, I’m just so hungry. Positively starving to… um … death.

That commotion out there… He’s here at last, then?

Talk about relaxed punctuality: only a few days late. Building up for His Big Moment, was He?

Ah. Right.

Sorry. I was bang out of order. Yes, I can hear Him crying. And, yes, I know He cares.

Yes, I know they care, too.

No, it’s NOT all about me, but, in case you forgot, I DIED! It’s alright for you… You’ve done all that dead stuff and come out of it quite nicely, thank you. I just hope God remembers that I sort of died for Jesus’ Big Moment.

What do you mean ‘no, I’ve got it wrong and He’s going to die for me, some day’?

Oh, I forgot. Sorry. It’s all a bit hard to get my head round, sometimes...

Not like now, with me trussed up dead and lying here on a slab and chatting to an angel… No, that’s all perfectly norm-

Pardon? Yup… Ready.

Rising from the dead, eh? Beat that, Jesus!

Here goes!