The Best Day Ever: John 11, 38-43 

By Bryan Abalos, ENG 207: Creative Writing 

As my body lies in the cold, dark tomb, I cannot help but feel optimism. It has been a long four days and I have almost given up hope. Never did I think I would be in this position. I have left my sisters behind and now they weep for me. They are sad I am not by their side, but in my head, I knew I would find my way back to them once again. I knew my love for Jesus and almighty God would guide me during my darkest times. Even when I lay on my death bed and my sisters called for Jesus, my hope and faith never wavered.  

As Jesus and his disciples made their way to me in Judea, my body could no longer take the illness. My body had broken down, but my soul did not leave this earth, for I knew that Jesus was coming. I knew that if I kept my faith and believed in him, then there would be no death, only salvation. It is an odd feeling being able to walk and roam the earth while no one can see you or hear you. There were moments I saw my sisters sad as they cried because of my death. I wanted to come to them and comfort them to let them know: “I have not left your side. I am with you in spirit and will once again be with you in the flesh.” I wanted to tell them to be patient and have faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

I could tell the faith of Mary and Martha was dwindling as they had no idea what to expect of Jesus. Once the word got to them that Jesus was arriving, Martha went straight to meet him. She knew what this meant. She knew there was still hope for my life. The fact that Jesus had returned, knowing how the Jews had once treated him in this town, showed how much he loved me and my sisters. I believe that Martha felt the same way as she was eager to come to him. Mary was struggling with all that was going on and was less enthusiastic about the Lord’s visit. She waited at home in sorrow, only thinking of the present and my death. I would watch over her, thinking that she just needs a small glimmer of hope.  

I knew once Jesus arrived that everything would change and so it did. Mary eventually got out of the house and went to see Jesus. I watched her fall to her feet in front of Jesus and beg for his help. He said to them, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; And whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11). This message from Jesus to my sister was to instill belief and faith in her that everything will be okay as long as one believes in him. All I could hope was that my sisters believed in Jesus as much as I do, for he loves us so much. As Jesus made his way to the tomb, I knew the time had come for him to turn non-believers into believers. As Jesus asked where I lay, my sister stopped him and said my body would have a wicked stench due to the amount of time I was dead. I rolled over in my grave as I could not believe that the first thought my sister had was going to be about my body odor. At that point Jesus asked to be led to the tomb where I lay. He ordered that the rock covering my body be moved immediately. Jesus then said aloud “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11). I started to have feeling in my fingers and my toes, and a sudden surge of energy flew through my body. My eyes opened, and the joy and relief I felt was unimaginable. I knew that Jesus had saved me, and I would finally be reunited with my family.  

As I walk out of my tomb, the greatest sight to see is my loved ones — there waiting for me along with my Savior Jesus Christ. I walk out and shout, “Hallelujah!”