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1st century AD · Jesus’ ministry around AD 28-30

Lazarus of Bethany in the Bible

The friend of Jesus raised from the dead. Name meaning: The Greek form of the Hebrew Eleazar, “God has helped”; not to be confused with the poor man Lazarus in the parable (Luke 16:20)

Lazarus is from Bethany, the village of his sisters Martha and Mary, and Jesus loves him (John 11:1, 3, 5). When he falls ill and dies, Jesus arrives four days later and cries out, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43). The dead man walks out of the tomb, his hands and feet bound with grave clothes (11:44). The miracle leads many Jews to believe, and the chief priests plot to put Lazarus to death as well (John 12:10-11). Not a single word of his is recorded.

Main books: John

Key moments

  • His sisters send word to Jesus: “he whom thou lovest is sick” John 11:3
  • Jesus announces, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth” John 11:11
  • Lazarus has been in the tomb four days John 11:17
  • “Jesus wept” John 11:35
  • “Lazarus, come forth!” John 11:43
  • He comes out, bound hand and foot with grave clothes John 11:44
  • He sits at the table with Jesus in Bethany John 12:2
  • The chief priests plot to kill him too John 12:10

Strengths

  • Friend of Jesus
  • Quiet presence
  • Living witness

Weaknesses

The Bible records no fault of Lazarus, and no word from him. His weakness is the weakness of every human being: he gets sick and dies (John 11:1, 14). His only strength is being loved by Jesus, who calls him out of the tomb (John 11:5, 43-44).

Lessons for today

  • Being loved by Jesus doesn’t shield you from sickness or death: Lazarus was “he whom thou lovest” (John 11:3).
  • Jesus’ delays are not abandonment: he stays two more days, for the glory of God (John 11:4-6).
  • Jesus has power over death: “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43-44) illustrates his promise, “I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25).
  • A restored life becomes a testimony: crowds come to see Lazarus, and many believe in Jesus (John 12:9-11).
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 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. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
John 11:3–5
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John 11:25–26
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 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.
John 11:43–44

People around Lazarus of Bethany

  • Martha — His sister, who serves and who objects at the tomb
  • Mary — His sister, who later anoints Jesus’ feet
  • Jesus — His friend, who calls him back to life
  • The chief priests — They plot to put him to death as well

Stories with Lazarus of Bethany

Quiz: how well do you know Lazarus of Bethany?

What village was Lazarus from?

Who were Lazarus’s sisters?

What did Jesus cry out with a loud voice at the tomb?

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