Mpaper – Lazarus is a prominent figure in the New Testament, known for being raised from the dead by Jesus—a miracle that underscores Jesus’ divine authority and foreshadows His own resurrection.
Lazarus of Bethany: The Man Jesus Raised
Lazarus lived in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, with his sisters Mary and Martha. He was a close friend of Jesus. In the Gospel of John (John 11:1–44), when Lazarus fell ill, his sisters sent for Jesus. However, Jesus delayed His visit, and by the time He arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Moved by the mourning of Mary and Martha, Jesus went to Lazarus’s tomb, prayed, and called out, “Lazarus, come forth!” Lazarus emerged from the tomb, still wrapped in burial cloths, alive once more.
Theological Significance
The raising of Lazarus is considered the final and most significant of the seven signs in the Gospel of John. It not only demonstrates Jesus’s power over death but also sets the stage for His own resurrection. This miracle led many to believe in Jesus, while others reported the event to the religious authorities, intensifying the plot against Him.
Lazarus in Other Traditions
In Islamic tradition, while the Quran does not mention Lazarus by name, it acknowledges Jesus’s miracles, including raising the dead. Medieval Islamic texts occasionally reference Lazarus, aligning with the Christian narrative of his resurrection.
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
It’s important to distinguish Lazarus of Bethany from the Lazarus mentioned in Luke 16:19–31. In this parable, Lazarus is a poor man who, after death, is comforted in the afterlife, while a rich man who ignored him in life suffers torment. This Lazarus is a fictional character used by Jesus to convey moral lessons about compassion and the consequences of one’s actions.
