Respond to the Word: Christ has power over death

Make the most of a long but highly dramatic story. The raising of Lazarus was an overwhelming and terrifying event. Use a contemporary translation of the Bible, such as ‘The Contemporary English Version’ or ‘The Message’ (see Further resources ). If using a dramatised version, it would be easy to wrap the person playing Lazarus in (white) loo roll to simulate the grave clothes.

Plant a ‘reporter’ in the gallery, or somewhere high up, and another at floor level and ask them to report after the gospel reading on how they saw the story. The one with the eagle’s-eye view will stress Jesus’ authority and power; the one observing from the floor will stress his humanity, compassion and vulnerability. Draw out how both aspects are present in the way John tells the story and in how we, too, understand Jesus as the Son of God.

The story refers to the smell of the grave when someone had been dead four days. Then, in chapter 12, Mary fills the whole house with a beautiful smell. Smell is probably the most evocative of all our senses. Ask people to describe bad, good, or highly particular smells they have experienced and the feelings they evoke — but only if you are able to be unfazed by any jokers in the congregation! What sort of smells would have been around in the story of Holy Week and Easter?