Who's tan, rested, and ready for another full week of saintly action? That was rhetorical. Of course you're tan. Today we have an intriguing Biblical matchup between Esther and Lazarus. Courageous queen vs. friend of Jesus. Who will advance? That's up to you.
After a depressing weekend without any voting, you may have forgotten what transpired on Friday. Edith Cavell, yet another one of the 2018 Cinderellas, took down theological heavyweight John Wesley 68% to 32%. She'll face Anna Alexander in what should be a lively Saintly Sixteen matchup.
It's hard to believe we're exactly halfway through the first round. But it's true. Eight matchups down, eight matchups to go before it's on to the the next round. Hang on to your halos!
Esther
Esther, a saint from the Hebrew Bible, lived between 520-450 BCE, in the Persian Empire. She was an orphan raised by her devout cousin Mordecai. King Ahasuerus was king of Persia, but he was not known for being a nice guy. When we first meet him, he summons his wife Vashti to appear before a room of visiting dignitaries. When she refuses to appear, he orders her to be killed. Yikes.
To replace Vashti, the king holds an ancient beauty pageant: Women from all over the empire are summoned so that he may choose his favorite. Esther is declared the most beautiful in the kingdom and becomes queen—but she has not told anyone at the court, including the king, that she is Jewish.
Meanwhile, Haman, the king’s chief advisor, is struggling with some major ego issues. Because he believes Mordecai slighted him on the street, Haman convinces the king to order the murder of all Jews in the kingdom.
Mordecai informs Esther, urging her to do something. So Esther concocts a plan. In Persia, a law forbade entering the king’s presence unless he sent for you, under penalty of death. Esther asks the Persian Jews to pray and fast with her. Then, she gets dressed up and goes before the king—unrequested—and risks her own life.
Thankfully, the king has pity on her and grants her an audience. She takes the opportunity to invite the king and Haman to dine with her that evening. That dinner party goes so well that she suggests a second dinner party the next evening. The second night, after dinner is winding down, and everyone is in a good mood, Esther seizes the opportunity to come out as Jewish and announces that if Haman is to kill all the Jews in the land, then that would include her. MIC. DROP.
The king immediately decrees that Haman should be executed. He stipulates that the Jews will now be allowed to fight in their own defense on the day of the proposed mass execution. And so Esther saves the Jews of Persia.
Esther’s story has come to be seen as emblematic of how a minority can wield power within a majority culture. She negotiates power imbalances and exercises her privilege on behalf of her people and in the service of God. Through her story, she is wholly herself and still protects her people.
Collect for Esther
O God of the dispossessed, kindle in us the confidence and certainty of Esther, that we may hold fast to who we are, and seek to do your will, even in the most difficult of circumstances, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lazarus of Bethany
Lazarus of Bethany (also Lazarus of the Four Days, referring to the time he was dead for four days) is intimately connected with the life of Jesus.
According to the New Testament witness, Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, were some of Jesus’ closest friends. The eleventh chapter of John’s Gospel recounts Jesus’ deep grief over the death of Lazarus, and the subsequent miracle of his resurrection.
Like many biblical figures, Lazarus only makes a brief appearance in the text itself, but numerous extra-biblical traditions have been handed down and provide deeper detail. According to John 12, Lazarus’s resurrection garnered a great deal of attention, both from those who were inspired by the story and from those who were threatened by it. Later tradition suggests that Lazarus fled Judea for someplace safer, perhaps in response to threats upon his life.
Two theories developed about Lazarus’s flight from Judea; a more recent tradition tells of his travels to Marseille, France, while an older tradition tells of him settling in Cyprus. In both traditions, Lazarus lived for another three decades and continued to witness to the work and message of Jesus.
Although there are few details of Lazarus’s personality, it is not hard to imagine that his death and resurrection must have profoundly changed him. According to one story, seeing death made him very somber, and he smiled only once in his remaining thirty years.
Some scholars have suggested that Lazarus is the unnamed “Beloved Disciple” of John’s Gospel, a view that adds even more poignancy to the scene of Jesus’ grief outside the tomb of Lazarus.
In Western traditions, the witness of Lazarus is remembered, along with his sisters, on July 29. In the Orthodox church, the day before Palm Sunday is known as Lazarus Saturday—a foretaste of the joy of Easter Sunday as the church prepares for Holy Week.
Collect for Lazarus
Generous God, whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany: Open our hearts to love you, our ears to hear you, and our hands to welcome and serve you in others, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[poll id="213"]
215 comments on “Esther vs. Lazarus of Bethany”
My vote goes to Esther for her courage, bravery and resourcefulness. I'm afraid that I was somewhat put off Lazarus because of the suggestion that he only smiled once in thirty years. A faith without laughter seems to be a betrayal of the generous and gifting God who holds all things in love.
Much as I love the story of Esther I had to vote for Lazarus because he was s strong witness for Jesus the rest of his “second chance.”
The woman who comes out as a Jew or a zombie... tough one. I think I'm really rewarding the guest blogger's write up of Esther when I voted for her. Coming out and mic drop... love the contemporary twist on her actions.
I liked her diplomacy and courage...one of the first "feminists."
"Esther's story can be seen as emblematic of how a minority can wield power within a majority culture". What a challenge for our culture today. Esther gets my vote.
Esther - for courage and diplomacy.
I am an Esther fan, admittedly. Curious to know why you say "it didn't happen" but the story of Lazarus is true?
God bless you for asking this question!
If you read Esther in the Bible, she seems a bit bloody minded. She has to king for a second day to be allowed to the Jews to kill all their enemies. She also asked for the twin sons of Hamman to be executed. What did they do? So, I voted for Lazarus.
Esther is one smart, courageous, resourceful cookie. An inspiration. She's got my vote.
Esther may save her people but she seems to have little sympathy for the other side, leading to the killing of Haman's sons (which she is said to have demanded) and the further deaths of thousands. Although she was brave indeed her story so often ends with the saving but doesn't go on to detail the aftermath. I would have voted for Vashti who truly stood up to the King. Lazarus seems to me to be about life and to be deeply woven into the deeper themes of the Bible. I am voting for him.
This comment is so far along that probably no one will get to it, but....I voted for Esther because what she did affected/saved a whole race. I've loved her story ever since I read a book about her, written for young adults, called _Behold Your Queen_. But reading about Lazarus reminded me of a wonderful book called _Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal_, by Christopher Moore. If you haven't read it, you should. It explains what happened in Christ's childhood, and in case you haven't already guessed from the title, it takes a less serious (but still reverent) attitude towards Christ. Among other things, the author, Levi, called Biff, mentions that after Lazarus was raised from being dead for four days, he always smelled a little funny.
Lamb —a little less serious? One of the funniest and very irreverent books I've ever read! High on my list of things that should be read by all Christians!
Esther was proactive. All Lazarus did was die. Jesus did all the work in that story. And Lazarus never or seldom smiled again? I thought dying was supposed to be a beautiful experience?especially if Jesus himself resurrects you. Vote Esther.
What does "of course you're tan" mean?
Have to go with Esther, as she won out over the kings advisor, Haman. There may be a parallel here as it obviously was not good to be the kings chief advisor, and some may say it might not be good to be the presidents chief advisor either.
Hardly a fair match up! Dude famous for being a friend of Jesus who comes back from the dead vs the champion of the Jewish people demonstrating how even minorities can exercise power? I’m sure Lazarus was a nice guy, even with that odor problem after being dead 3 days, but this hardly compares to Esther who even has a holiday in her honor.
No contest. Easter got my vote because she was a person who took the risk of doing the right thing when EVERYONE was watching.
I love the tender story of Jesus weeping over the death of his beloved friend. Lazarus gets my vote.
I chose Lazarus for personal reasons. Like Mary and Martha, I have been asking Jesus to keep my brother alive. In my prayers I have referred to this very story and feel certain that our merciful Jesus loves my brother too. So far, although my brother has been on the fence between life and death for two months now, I continue to pray that Jesus will restore him to life, just like Lazarus.
It casts doubt upon whether we're rested and ready.
I pray that your brother and your family will be blessed with peace whatever happens.
I have always been moved by Esther's bravery.
My vote for Esther was based on my usual criteria - how the saint's story touches my heart, impact then and now, etc. But I must confess I am very eager for Esther to make it to the Final Four -- imagine the joys of exploring Purim kitsch! Fun!!!
Hello "Story!" Esther was the name of my (maternal) grandmother as well. My husband is abstaining today. He just couldn't connect with either of these individuals. I'm on the fence. It probably won't be the only time this happens to me during the Madness.
Voted for Esther.
Still wondering if I should give up Lent Madness for the rest of Lent.
Going day by day.
Oh, such a difficult choice: a pretty woman or a dead man!
Who doesn't like the story of a heroine?
Lazarus. Including Esther in the list of "saints" seems to me an inappropriate appropriation (hmmm, is that an oxymoron?) of a legendary Hebrew heroine (whose existence is somewhat doubtful and whose story has next to nothing to do with God) into the Christian community of witnesses to Christ.
Esther. Her proponent did a good job!
The account of Lazarus in John 11 is a particular favorite of mine. Yet I had to go with Esther, who saved God's chosen people from destruction.
Esther
PURIM ! even if the story starts with a beauty pageant (women being judged worthy based on their looks...)
Never quite certain about the raising of Lazarus. A body begins decomposing soon after death, and after four days, I don't see the body physically rejuvenating.
With God all things are possible.
Esther--so God used physical beauty to put a person of intelligence and strong character in a position to save God's people. So why do we so often have a prejudice against beauty?
I love Ester's story but I voted for Lazarus because of the endearing and supernatural account of his 'second chance' in the Gospels.