John 11:17

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

From Background Notes [BN] for July 14^th & 15^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Going to Lazarus at this juncture might seem entirely useless. After all, they are going to a dead man. What they would encounter in Bethany was the beginning of a seven-day mourning cycle...

1. They would visit the family of the bereaved, in this case, Mary and Martha, his sisters.

2. Neighbors would come by and provide the first meal after the burial ritual.

3. Burial would happen within twenty-four hours of death:

a. The body would be wrapped and placed in a temporary tomb, until only bones remained one year later

when a second burial in an ossuary ("bone box") would take place.

b. The body would be dressed in a "traveling garment."

c. A procession to the tomb followed, led by the women.

d. Speeches were made at the tomb.

e. A meal would be shared after the return from tomb, consisting of bread, hard-boiled eggs and lentils.

f. The spirit of the deceased remained until four days passed. No hope for reviving the dead after this.

4. The family would "sit Shivah", that is, for seven days.

5. For thirty more days, a less intense mourning would follow. [BN, 12]

Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene:

* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am, 5:30pm