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Lazarus was, according to Christian tradition, a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, the brother of Martha and Mary of Bethany.

< Raising of Lazarus -- Anointing at Bethany -- Plot to Kill Lazarus -- Relics of Lazarus -- Lazarus in Literature & Arts >

< Lazarus (fiction) : Lazarus (art) -- Lazarus (cinema) -- Lazarus (literature) -- Lazarus (music) >

Overview

Lazarus is only mentioned in the Gospel of John as a friend of Jesus who was miraculously resurrected by him (see the Raising of Lazarus). Lazarus was the brother of Martha and Mary, and all were residents of Bethany.

According to the Gospel of John, Lazarus was the one who "six days before the Passover" and before the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem hosted the banquet in his house at Bethany when his sister Mary anointed Jesus' feet provoking the reaction of Judas Iscariot (see Anointing at Bethany). In Mark and Matthew, on the other hand, the dinner happened after the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, the host was "Simon the leper" and an unnamed woman anointed Jesus.

The Gospel of John also suggests that there was a Plot to Kill Lazarus by the High Priests, but does not say if it was carried out.

Lazarus is mentioned, however, only in John 11 and 12. Outside of those two chapters, there is no further mention of him.

In the Gospel of Luke a certain Lazarus is mentioned (Luke 16:20ff) in Jesus' story of the death of the rich man and Lazarus and their interaction in Hades. There is, however, no reason to equate the Lazarus of Luke with the Lazarus made famous in the Gospel of John.

Lazarus in ancient sources

Gospel of John

Raising of Lazarus -- Joh 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 11:2 And it was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick... 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus... 11:11 These things spake he: and after this he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep... 11:14 Then Jesus therefore said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.... 11:43 And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

Anointing of Jesus -- Joh 12:1 Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. [2] So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him...

Joh 12:9 The common people therefore of the Jews learned that he was there: and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

Joh 12:10 But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death;

Joh 12:17 The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare witness.

Lazarus in Literature & the Arts

Besides those works that directly refer to the biblical Lazarus, there are other works that simply use his name or allude to his figure as the launch pad for various projects having nothing to do with the gospel narrative. Such volumes as Waking Lazarus (2006) by T.L. Hines, The Lazarus Vendetta (2004) by Robert Ludlum, and The Lazarus Effect (1983) by Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom have utilized the reference to the biblical character in the broadest of outlines. Similar examples are found in music (Lazarus [2010] by Travie McCoy) and cinema (The Lazarus Project [2008] by John Glenn). Because of his status as one "raised from the dea," Lazarus seems to fascinate the general public even when there is little interest in the biblical story.

• See Lazarus (arts) -- survey of fictional works

Lazarus in Scholarship

Few scholars have adopted the position of Ben Witherington III that suggests that Lazarus is the Beloved Disciple. There is scant evidence for such a position. Indeed, few scholars are willing to say much about Lazarus at all given the paucity of evidence in the Gospels and given the fact that the Gospels are not interested in the life of Lazarus apart from its intersection with Jesus.

• See Lazarus (research) -- survey of scholarly works

Related categories

• Jesus of Nazareth

External links

• Wikipedia