Lazarus

Lore & Background

In the Gospel of Luke, Lazarus appears only in a parable told by Jesus. He is a poor beggar, laid at a rich man's gate, covered with sores (Luke 16:20). After death, angels carry him to Abraham's side, while the rich man is tormented in Hades and begs for a drop of water from Lazarus's finger (Luke 16:23-24). Abraham explains that Lazarus now receives comfort after his earthly suffering (Luke 16:25). This Lazarus is never said to be raised from the dead or to have any connection to Bethany. In the Gospel of John, a different Lazarus is introduced as a specific historical figure from Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha (John 11:1-2). Jesus loves this family (John 11:5) and, after Lazarus falls sick and dies, Jesus declares he will awaken him (John 11:11, John 11:14). At the tomb, Jesus cries out, 'Lazarus, come forth,' and the dead man emerges (John 11:43). This resurrection draws many people to see Lazarus, and the chief priests plot to kill him as well (John 12:9-10).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray two figures sharing the name Lazarus, each serving a different narrative purpose. In Luke, Lazarus is a passive character in a parable about reversal of fortunes: the poor man suffers on earth but is comforted in the afterlife, while the rich man who ignored him is tormented (Luke 16:20-25). The parable emphasizes divine justice and the chasm between earthly and eternal states. No miracle is attributed to this Lazarus; his role is to illustrate a moral lesson. In John, Lazarus is an active historical person whose sickness, death, and resurrection become a sign of Jesus's power over death (John 11:1-43). His raising leads to increased faith among witnesses (John 12:17) and provokes hostility from religious authorities (John 12:10). The passages highlight Jesus's love for Lazarus and his family (John 11:5) and present the resurrection as a public event that confirms Jesus's identity. The two accounts are not linked in the text, and readers should note that the name 'Lazarus' may refer to different individuals in different contexts.

Did You Know?

• The beggar Lazarus is the only named character in any of Jesus's parables (Luke 16:20).
• The Bethany Lazarus was raised after being dead four days, according to the broader context of John 11 .
• After his resurrection, Lazarus sat at a supper table with Jesus (John 12:2).
• The chief priests wanted to kill Lazarus because many Jews believed in Jesus because of him (John 12:9-10).