And Jesus can picture the sisters gathered around their brother s bed. The messenger returns to Bethany, but finds that Lazarus is dead. His body, cold and ashen, stiffening with rigor mortis, has been wrapped in sheets, covered with a napkin, and laid in the cool dark cave of a tomb . A large rock is put across the entrance to the cave, and soil plugs up the cracks to keep the smell within. As with Jewish custom, shivah begins a seven-day vigil in the home.
Friends come to mourn and comfort to cry and be comforted.
And Jesus abode two days still . I don t read of the disciples hustling to go to Bethany. The last time Jesus was in Jerusalem, the Jews had sought to kill Him. It had been ugly, and the disciples felt that Bethany only two miles from Jerusalem was a little too close for comfort. The disciples respond, He must be doing well if he s only sleeping.