The Raising of Lazarus

Jesus' raising of Lazarus from the dead as recorded in John 11 is a very detailed accounting. This miracle took place during what is called Jesus' Perean ministry, which occurred during the last year of His life. It truly is a very spiritually moving and faith building event that beyond doubt reveals the nature of real miracles and displays the power of the Son of God. It also quite explicitly reveals the dual nature of Christ as being both Son of Man and Son of God.

Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha, and they were all personal friends of Jesus (John 11:1-2). Jesus had a very special relationship with these people as can be seen in verse 5 of this chapter. John reveals, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” Lazarus and his sisters lived in the small town of Bethany, which was located about two miles from the city of Jerusalem (verse 18). Lazarus and his sisters were evidently financially successful, for it was Mary who anointed Jesus Christ with very precious, expensive oil in John 12:3-5. This would seem to refute those who believe that this Lazarus is the same Lazarus as the man in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus found in Luke 16. Lazarus was described as being a poor man, a beggar, in the parable. The miraculous raising of Lazarus, as was the case with Jesus' miracles in general, was acknowledged as real even by His own avowed enemies (John 11:47), which cannot be said of those today who claim to be able to perform miracles.

This recorded wondrous work serves as more proof as to Jesus' Deity as the Apostle John continues throughout his Gospel narrative to thwart the heretical teachings of Gnosticism. Even a bodily resurrection of one who is decaying is not too hard for Jesus to accomplish. About thirty years following the raising of Lazarus from the grave, the Apostle Paul asks King Agrippa, "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" (Acts 26:8). Jesus said to Martha in the context of Lazarus' resurrection, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (verse 25). In conclusion, let us realize that while the account of the raising of Lazarus is indeed moving, Christ can and shall raise all the dead at the last day. Some will be raised to eternal life, while others will be raised to eternal damnation. Consider this statement coming from the very lips of Jesus Christ Himself: 28. “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice 29. and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29) The One Who raised Lazarus also died, but He rose from that tomb, victoriously defeating death and Satan. When He conquered death, He was raised to die no more and became the "firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Corinthians 15:20, compare to Romans 1:4), where He now sits reigning over His Kingdom at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1).