Hazy sounds and visions fill my head, in and out of a restless sleep.  Moist, cool cloths caress my forehead, but I am still so hot.  So tired.  I hear, “Is he coming?  Is he on his way yet?”  My sister, Mary.  Insistent.  Eagerly angry for an affirmative answer.  ”The messenger isn’t back yet,” consoles Martha, trying to remain hopeful.

Breathing is so hard.  I’m so tired.  Voices so far away, I’m at the bottom of a cave, or on the other side of a hill hearing my family and friends looking for me, but I can’t speak, “here I am.”  So tired.  It’s so dark, so cold.  A vague touch, a hollow sound, “Lazarus, we love you.”  Nothing.

Waking from a deep, deep sleep, I hear a voice.  Where am I?  Why can’t I move?  Dark!  I can’t see.  Feel so stiff.  That voice!  Jesus?  He came!  Where are you, Jesus?

“Lazarus, come out!”  Oh, yes, that’s Jesus alright!  Come out from where?  Shuffling my feet off this cold, hard bed.  Where am I anyway?  I muffle, “Jesus, I’m coming,” as something is wrapped around my face and mouth.  Shuffle faster, the Master is calling my name!

“Unbind him!”  Hands and voices and bright light!  Pulling, tugging at me, while people are crying, laughing, screaming, hollering!  What do they mean, “He’s alive?”  Just let me wake up, I’ve been sick you know.  But I don’t feel sick anymore.  I feel great!  See what a good night sleep can do for a person?

Dead?  Me?  Four days?  That smell was, is, me?  Oh, my, God!  I need to sit down.

There he is, smiling at me.  Yet, sad and worried too.  Jesus, what did you do to me?  What did you do for me?  What will it cost you?  Jesus, my Lord, my Savior, my Life, thank you.  I fall at his feet.  I’m awake now!  With all my heart, with all my life, thank you Jesus!  Why are you still crying, Jesus?  I’m awake now.