Lazarus of Bethany
New Testament figure raised from the dead by Jesus.
Lazarus of Bethany is a figure of the New Testament whose life is restored by Jesus four days after his death, as told in the Gospel of John. The resurrection is considered one of the miracles of Jesus. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lazarus is venerated as Righteous Lazarus, the Four-Days Dead. The Eastern Orthodox and Catholic traditions offer varying accounts of the later events of his life.
- field
- New Testament figure
- known_for
- Raised from the dead by Jesus four days after his death
- nationality
- Jewish, from Bethany (near Jerusalem)
Lore & Background
Lazarus of Bethany is introduced in the Gospel of John as a follower of Jesus and the brother of Mary and Martha. When Lazarus falls ill, his sisters send word to Jesus, who intentionally delays his journey for two days. By the time Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been dead and entombed for four days. Jesus meets Martha and Mary, who lament that he did not arrive sooner. Jesus then goes to the tomb, has the stone rolled away, prays, and calls Lazarus forth. Lazarus emerges still wrapped in grave-cloths, and Jesus instructs others to remove them. Many witnesses to this event believed in Jesus, while others reported it to religious authorities in Jerusalem.
Reader's Guide
The raising of Lazarus is the climactic narrative in the context of the seven signs in the Gospel of John, exemplifying Jesus' power over death. It is the last miracle Jesus performs before his own passion, crucifixion, and resurrection. The event directly leads to the decision of Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin to put Jesus on trial. The name Lazarus has been used in science and popular culture to refer to apparent restoration to life, such as the scientific term Lazarus taxon, the Lazarus sign, and the Lazarus syndrome. There is also a North Korean cybercrime gang called Lazarus Group, and numerous literary uses of the term. A distinct character of the same name appears in the Gospel of Luke in Jesus's parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
Did You Know?
- The name Lazarus is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew Eleazar, meaning 'God has helped'.
- The town of Bethany is today known as Al-Eizariya in the West Bank, Palestine, which translates to 'the place of Lazarus'.
- The raising of Lazarus is the longest coherent narrative in the Gospel of John aside from the Passion.
- A similar resurrection story is found in the controversial Secret Gospel of Mark, though the young man is not named there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lazarus of Bethany?
Lazarus is a Jewish man from the village of Bethany, near Jerusalem, identified in the Gospel of John as the brother of Mary and Martha. He is best known as the individual whom Jesus brought back to life after he had been dead and buried for four days.
What miracle is Lazarus of Bethany associated with?
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead four days after his death, an event recorded in John 11 and regarded as one of the principal miracles demonstrating Christ's authority over death. The episode also directly precedes the events leading to Jesus's entry into Jerusalem.
How is Lazarus of Bethany venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church?
The Eastern Orthodox Church honors him under the title "Righteous Lazarus, the Four-Days Dead," commemorating his restoration to life. He is celebrated as a saint whose resurrection foreshadows the general resurrection of the faithful.
What does the canon say about Lazarus's life after the resurrection?
The New Testament itself does not narrate any events following Lazarus's raising, leaving his later years unrecorded in Scripture. Eastern Orthodox and Catholic traditions each offer their own extra-biblical accounts of what he did afterward, but these are not part of the canonical text.
Why is Lazarus of Bethany's story important in Christian theology?
His resurrection serves as a concrete sign of Jesus's power over death and is presented in John's Gospel as a deliberate revelation of Christ's divine identity. The event also functions as a theological foreshadowing of the resurrection that Jesus would himself undergo and that believers are promised.
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