The three whom Jesus raised are truly tragic figures. Each one is a warning to us. Lazarus is the most striking warning of all because he is someone described by Jesus as “our friend.” He is a symbol of a baptized Christian who has fallen into habitual sin—one who is not only sick, but dead and corrupting—who is absolutely helpless unless Jesus comes along and raises him from the tomb of spiritual death. Let us push the symbol one step further in its poignancy. Lazarus is not only the symbol of a