What About Lazarus?

 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. John 12:2 KJV

Now, we are all familiar with the story of Martha complaining to Jesus that she was doing all the work, and most know about Mary pouring perfume on the Lord’s feet, but we don’t really know much about Lazarus. The Bible doesn’t tell us even one word that he ever said. In some ways Lazarus reminds me a little of my grandmother. She once told me, “When I was young, I was my father’s daughter.” (The local doctor.) When I married, I became my husband’s wife, (my grandfather was a U.S. Navy Captain.) When I had children, I became the mother of my kids: (Both my mom and one of my uncles became somewhat well-known writers.) “What I want to know, is when I can just be me?” Like my grandmother, we don’t know anything about Lazarus personally. We first hear about him only as the brother of Mary and Martha. Later on, all we know is that he got sick and died. We aren’t told whether Lazarus was married, had any children or even what kind of job he had. But we do find out one very important thing: Jesus called him out of the grave! His life may not have been impressive, but the lesson that we learn from Lazarus is because, we are loved by Jesus Christ. We don’t need to have the best grades, the highest paying job, or a perfect family to be special to Him. To Jesus, none of those details matter more than the simple fact that He chose give His life for us and that, if we believe in Him, He will also call us from our grave. Then, just like Lazarus, we will get to sit next to Jesus at His table in heaven forever and ever. And that is pretty impressive if you ask me!

“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” Saint Augustine
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Mary Simply Stayed


On Friday night they left the Tomb
And in the darkness prayed
Then sadly went off to their homes
And slowly walked away

But on the Sabbath after dawn
Mary hurried back to bring
The spices for His resting place
In honor for her King

But the tomb was empty
So she went back to call
The men to come and see that there
Was nothing left at all

So John and Peter ran to see
Only grave clothes there inside
Then wondering they turned and left
As Mary softly cried

Then she heard His footsteps
When she turned she saw a man
But thought He was the gardener
Just passing by as planned

And then He asked her why she wept
And why she was afraid
And He called her name and showed Himself
Because she simply stayed




But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
John 20:11 ESV

Mary Simply Stayed
By Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2025
All rights reserved


One Simple Miracle

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 
Matthew 28:5-6 ESV

As we get closer to Easter, we need to remember what our faith is really about. Christianity is not about big church buildings, Christian concerts with special effects or elaborate social programs. Instead, all that we are and everything we do is based on one single morning at a tomb. The body of Jesus was supposed to be inside it. The priests were counting on it, because they had sent soldiers to guard it. Pilate was sure of it, because it was shut with a Roman seal. Even the closest friends of Jesus believed He would be there because they went with spices to prepare the body. And the grave was shut. The tomb was silent. The death from crucifixion was final…. Until it wasn’t!

You seek Jesus who was crucified” the angel said. “He is not here for He has risen as He said!” And in that moment all History turned on the hinge of one simple miracle - an empty tomb and our risen Lord!