The Raising of Lazarus by Sebastiano del Piombo

Venetian artist, Sebastiano del Piombo completed the painting of the Raising of Lazarus in January 1519. It was immediately hailed as an artistic triumph. Michelangelo Buonarroti befriended Sebastiano, and he became one of the rare and trusted friends of Michelangelo. The friendship, however, drew Sebastiano into the long running rivalry between Raphael Sanzio and Michelangelo.

Cardinal Guilio de’Medici had commissioned Raphael to create a large altarpiece depicting “Christ’s Transfiguration” for the cathedral in Narbonne. The Cardinal also commissioned Sebastiano to create “The Raising of Lazarus” as a large altarpiece for Narbonne’s cathedral. It was not out of the ordinary to commission two paintings for the same cathedral, but many believe today – as it was also believed already in the 1500s – that the cardinal was pitting the two artists against each other. The Cardinal, of course, was well aware of the artistic rivalry between Michelangelo and Raphael. Michelangelo was very willing to lend Sebastiano a hand with the work by supplying him with sketches that could be incorporated into “The Raising of Lazarus.”

You can read about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11. A portion of these verses are used in Lutheran churches this Sunday for the Gospel lesson for the 5^th Sunday in Lent.

Sebastiano’s painting depicts specifically verses 40-44: “Then Jesus said, Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’”

In the painting, Christ is standing in the foreground. He is pointing toward the seated figure of Lazarus, who is still partly covered by his burial shroud. As the Word made flesh, there is power in Jesus’ words. It is that Word that created life in Adam, calling him out of the dust of the ground. It is that same Word that now creates life in Lazarus, calling him out of the grave before he can become the dust of the ground.

We don’t know the age of Lazarus, whether he was a young or old man. Lazarus is portrayed by Sebastiano as a strong, mature man. You can definitely see the influence of Michelangelo in Lazarus when you look at Michelangelo’s sketches of the raised Lazarus.

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On the left, mid-ground, there is a group of Pharisees who are unimpressed with what they have seen. They demanded miraculous signs from Jesus, but then immediately discounted them. They are still hell-bent on plotting the death of the so-called miracle worker.

While the Pharisees refuse to believe what they see, many others who are gathered at the tomb are holding up their hands in shock and disbelief at seeing the previously dead Lazarus coming back to life. Others talk together discussing what they see before them.  There is an old man on the lower left, hands clasped in prayer as he looks up at Jesus.

Mary, the sister of Lazarus, is on her knees to the right of Jesus, her hand placed over her heart. She had once sat at Jesus’ feet listening to him teach her in her home. Now she has returned to the ground before the Lord, approaching him in faith.

Perhaps the most striking reaction is that of Martha, Lazarus’ other sister. She is dressed in a blue robe with a red sash and stands to the right of Jesus. Surely, she is glad to see her brother alive again. But she is portrayed with her hands up and her head turned away. Though she loves her brother, she is recoiling from the sight and smell of Lazarus, for he has been dead for four days.

As you meditate upon this painting, also meditate upon the question that Jesus poses to Martha. As you see Lazarus alive after being buried for four days, do you believe that Jesus has power over death – your death, Lazarus’ death, His own death? “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

It may seem strange that during this time of the Christian church year we are focusing on the resurrection of Lazarus. But, I believe, there is a strong connection between the 5th Sunday in Lent and what will happen in two weeks on Easter Sunday.

For what happened at that Bethany cemetery is a prelude to what would happen in a few weeks in a Jerusalem cemetery. Jesus’ borrowed tomb was opened by the angel to show that Jesus was already gone. Jesus walked out of his own grave – alive. Lazarus’ resurrection and Christ’s resurrection are preludes to what will happen to us on the Last Day when our graves are opened and we are called from our tombs. “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Please do not miss what was happening in that Bethany cemetery. Don’t gloss over it thinking, “Oh, it’s another resurrection. Ho-hum.” This is amazing! This is astounding! This is a miracle! Life from death! Hope follows despair! The cemetery turned into a party!