Lazarus

Portrait of Lazarus

Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha from the village of Bethany, fell gravely ill and died while Jesus was away. Four days after his burial, Jesus arrived, prayed publicly, and commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb, at which point he emerged alive still wrapped in grave clothes. This event, recorded in John 11, demonstrated Jesusโ€™ power over death, prompted many witnesses to believe in him, and foreshadowed his own resurrection while underscoring the gospelโ€™s central call to faith.

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Biography

Era
New Testament (c. AD 30)
Nationality
Jewish
New Testament New Testament Era Other John

Did You Know?

1

The raising of Lazarus appears exclusively in John's Gospel and directly prompted the chief priests and Pharisees to convene the Sanhedrin and authorize Jesus' death, an outcome absent from the Synoptic accounts.

2

Lazarus' name is a contracted form of Eleazar, meaning "God has helped," a detail that aligns with the narrative's emphasis on divine intervention after four days of entombment when decomposition was culturally expected.

3

Unlike other Gospel resurrection stories, the Bethany account specifies that Lazarus' body had been in the tomb long enough for onlookers to protest the odor, underscoring the miracle's public and irreversible nature in first-century Jewish burial practices.

4

Mary's anointing of Jesus' feet in John 12 occurs in the immediate aftermath of her brother's resuscitation, linking the two events as an expression of familial gratitude rather than a separate anointing tradition found in the Synoptics.

5

Historical scholarship notes that Lazarus is the only named individual Jesus raised from the dead who is not a child or young person, highlighting the account's focus on an adult male with established social ties in Bethany.

Key Passages

Death of Lazarus

John 11:1-16

This passage shows how Jesus' deliberate delay in helping a loved one can deepen faith and display God's glory even through suffering and death.

N1ow a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. 7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? 9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. 16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Read full chapter: John 11 โ†’

Jesus Raises Lazarus

John 11:38-44

This miracle shows Jesus' tender compassion and power over death, assuring us he can bring life and hope into our darkest losses.

J38esus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Read full chapter: John 11 โ†’

Plot Against Lazarus

John 12:9-11

Lazarusโ€™s restored life drew crowds to faith in Jesus, revealing how one testimony can spark belief even amid fierce opposition.

M9uch people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesusโ€™ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; 11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

Read full chapter: John 12 โ†’

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