Practical religion: the resurrection of Lazarus showing Mount Martha, 1969
TO THE PLACE WHERE JOHN HAD BEEN BAPTISING / EARLIER.
THERE HE STAYED, WHILE CROWDS
CAME TO HIM. THEY SAID, 'JOHN -
JOHN GAVE US NO MIRACULOUS SIGN, BUT ALL THAT HE SAID ABOUT THIS MAN WAS TRUE.'
MANY CAME TO BELIEVE IN HIM
THERE WAS A MAN NAMED LAZARUS
WHO HAD FALLEN ILL.
HIS SISTERS SENT A MESSAGE TO JESUS: 'SIR, YOU SHOUD [sic] KNOW
THAT YOUR FRIEND
LIES ILL.'
WHEN JESUS HEARD THIS HE SAID,
'THIS SICKNESS WILL NOT END IN DEATH, IT HAS COME FOR THE GLORY
OF GOD.'
And therefore, he waited for two days in the place where he was.
After this he said to his disciples, 'LET US GO BACK TO JUDAEA'
'LET US GO
BACK TO
JUDAEA.' - are you going there again?
'Rabbi', his
disciples said,
'it is not long since
the people there
were wanting to stone you
JESUS REPLIED
'Are there not
twelve hours
of daylight?
Anyone can walk
in daytime without stumbling because he sees the light of this world. But if he walks after nightfall he stumbles, because the light
fails him.'
'OUR FRIEND LAZARUS / HAS FALLEN ASLEEP, BUT / I SHALL GO AND WAKE HIM
'MASTER IF HE HAS FALLEN ASLEEP HE
WILL RECOVER.'
'LAZARUS IS DEAD.
I AM GLAD NOT TO HAVE BEEN THERE; IT WILL BE FOR YOUR GOOD AND FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR FAITH. BUT LET US GO TO HIM.'
MARTHA WENT TO MEET JESUS,
"IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE, SIR,
MY BROTHER WOULD NOT HAVE DIED. EVEN NOW I KNOW THAT WHATEVER YOU ASK OF
GOD, GOD WILL GRANT YOU
I KNOW THAT
HE WILL RISE AGAIN;
AT THE RESURRECTION ON THE
LAST DAY."
DO YOU
BELIEVE THIS?
'The master is here, he is
asking for you' so Mary
came to the place where
Jesus was. 'O Sir, if you had
been here my brother would not have died.'
(COULD NOT THIS MAN WHO HAD OPENED THE BLIND MAN'S EYES HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO HAVE KEPT LAZARUS FROM DYING?)
JESUS SAID
I AM THE RESURRECTION
AND I AM LIFE.
IF A MAN HAS FAITH IN ME,
EVEN THOUGH HE DIE, HE SHALL
COME TO LIFE; AND NO ONE
WHO IS ALIVE AND HAS FAITH SHALL EVER DIE
Jesus went over to the tomb.
'Take away the stone', Jesus said,
'Did I not tell you that if you have faith you will see the glory of GOD
'LAZARUS COME FORTH: The dead man came out Jesus said, 'LOOSE HIM, LET HIM GO'
1970 Colin McCahon Recent Paintings: Victory Over Death or Practical Religion
Barry Lett Galleries
Auckland
2/3/1970 - 15/3/1970
1972 Colin McCahon: A Survey Exhibition
Auckland City Art Gallery
Auckland
7/3/1972 - 23/4/1972
1980 Colin McCahon at the Dowse Art Gallery
Dowse Art Museum
Lower Hutt
10/1980 - 10/1980
1984 I will need words: Colin McCahon's Word and Number Paintings
Power Gallery of Contemporary Art, University of Sydney
Sydney
11/4/1984 - 17/6/1984
1988 Colin McCahon: Gates and Journeys
Auckland City Art Gallery
Auckland
11/11/1988 - 26/2/1989
1992 Headlands: Thinking through New Zealand Art
Museum of Contemporary Art
Sydney
1/4/1992 - 19/6/1992
2002 Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith
Stedelijk Museum
Amsterdam
30/8/2002 - 10/11/2002
2006 Colin McCahon: Land and Spirit
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Wellington
10/2006 -
The painting was originally titled Victory over death, although this was abandoned following its first exhibition.