Who is Lazarus and where can we find him in the Bible?
Most people when asked will tell you that Lazarus was the man in the Bible that was raised from death by Jesus. Many of them even know that Lazarus had two sisters, Martha and Mary. Some will even confuse this Lazarus with another man that Jesus speaks of in a parable. So then, what does the Bible say about Lazarus and what can we learn from it?
More than one Lazarus in the Bible
As I studied, I found two Lazarus’s mentioned in the Bible. How do I know they are not the same person? I am so glad you asked.
Lazarus #1
In Luke 10:38-42 and John 11:1-45 we see mention of Jesus’ visits to the town of Bethany. As we study Lazarus let’s let the Bible prove the Bible and let’s also include some foundational Bible study rules: “time and place”.
John 11:1-45. Now 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. 17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. 28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. 30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. 31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. 32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. 34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? 38 Jesus 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. 45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
Luke 10:38-42. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Where was Jesus in His journey on earth – Lazarus #1?
When we study the Bible, it is sometimes useful to have a couple of other study tools. Nowadays, the Internet has gobs and gobs of information that helps set historical context. But this time I used a map of the “Footprints of Jesus in His last months” in the back of my Thompson Chain Reference Bible that shows the travels of Jesus, and I learned that Jesus was in His last months on earth going from Bethabara to Bethany in the John 11 account (He came into Bethany, which was close to Jerusalem, about 15 furlongs or 2 miles away John 11:18.) It should also be noted that this is the only time that we see Lazarus’s name in the Bible.
It was in this true historical account in John 11 that we see Jesus raised Lazarus to life after he had laid in the grave for four days already (v. 17). It is an amazing account of the power that Jesus had over death. Earlier in the passage when Jesus met Martha outside of town, He had asked her if she believed that He was the resurrection and life, and she acknowledged that she did. Then He goes about proving to her and everyone else that what He said is true (vs. 40-45) and “…many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.” Jesus’ miracle was for the unbeliever and for the believer — so that the Son of God might be glorified (John 11:5).
I included the Luke 10 reference so that you can see what event John was referring to in John 11:2. This took place earlier in Jesus’ ministry, this was part of Jesus’ journey in “the year of opposition”. He was going from Capernaum through Samaria to Bethany. He was received into the house of Martha, Mary and Lazarus (v. 38) to share a meal with His good friends. In this we know that Lazarus lived in a home with his sisters Martha and Mary. Therefore, Lazarus of Bethany was not a beggar.
Then Jesus went from Bethany to Ephraim (John 11:54)
Lazarus #2
In Luke 16:19-31 we read about “Lazarus and the rich man” a parable that Jesus spoke to the people, including the Pharisees that were already seeking to kill Him. This follows Luke chapters 14 and 15 which is also full of parables. Jesus often spoke in parables (illustrations) to teach life lessons to His followers and even to anyone who would listen. Parables are made up of fictitious people and events, and in fact the only parable in which Jesus named a “certain beggar” was this one in Luke 16 where he speaks of Lazarus.
Luke 16:19-31.There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Where was Jesus in His journey on earth – Lazarus #2?
Where was Jesus? He was in his last months on earth going from Ephraim to the Tour of Perea (the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan Mark 10:1).
In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, we see that sad story of a rich man who had everything in life but belief and so he perished. He had everything in life but life everlasting. And we see the poor beggar who had nothing in life but belief and so he lived. He had nothing in life but everlasting life.
The rich man had regrets but not even enough money to purchase what was free for the taking when he was on earth. The beggar lived a life that made him dependent upon the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table only to be rewarded with life after death in the bosom of Abraham (in Heaven). This is a testament of the incredible mercy of God.
When we look at the historical context and as mentioned above, we can see that this “certain beggar” was not Lazarus of Bethany. Again, Lazarus of Bethany had a home and was never called a beggar.
Other people that were resurrected
For more reading, get your Bible and read about these people who were also raised from the dead.
- A boy was raised by Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-22).
- Tabitha (Dorcas) was raised by Peter Acts 9:36-42.
- Paul raised a man named Eutychus from the dead after he fell from the third story of the building in which Paul was preaching. (Acts 20:9-21).
- The ruler Jarious’s daughter was raised by Jesus (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:41-42; Luke 8:52-56).
- Jesus also raised a widow’s son in the city of Nain (Luke 7:11-15).
Final Thoughts
Even though Lazarus of Bethany is only mentioned by name one time and the beggar Lazarus was mentioned only once, we can know that these are not the same person. We can even know that one man was really historical, and the other was fictitious. Amazingly, the best thing to know about Lazarus (real and fictitious) is that he was raised to life by Jesus so that more people would believe that He is the resurrection and the life. Believest thou this?
