Who Was Lazarus?

In one of the most dramatic miracles performed in the scriptures, Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead four days after his entombment. However, the story occurs only in the gospel of John (11:1-44), where Lazarus is presented as the brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany. The gospel of Luke (10:38-42) tells a famous story about Mary and Martha but does not mention their connection to Lazarus. Instead, Jesus tells a parable about a beggar named Lazarus and a rich man experiencing rewards and punishment in the afterlife (Luke 16:19-31). Indeed, nowhere else is Lazarus or his miraculous resurrection mentioned in the New Testament. Who was Lazarus? What happened to him after his resurrection? Why does such an important figure fall out of John’s narrative? Why is it not mentioned in any other source? John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will survey the many theories about the Lazarus narrative.

A Q&A and discussion will follow the presentation. Please send your questions on the live chat.


#lecture #cofchrist

[danlhendl]

Who was Lazarus? Good question. I’m glad you raised it 😅

[lauraahargreaves]

I appreciate the scholarship that goes into this talk, but appreciate that we see all of these through the dust of 2, 000 years, written over and over by many hands who did not mind exaggerating or inventing stories, and even copying stories poorly.
With all the wonderful stories of NDEs, that is people being near death, or actually being declared dead for a time, meeting Jesus or a being of light who greets them, have various experiences, then being sent back, maybe this is Jesus’ way of clarifying through them his message. So many of them change their lives completely after this, and are never afraid of death again.

[davidfolts]

Thank you for your time and great detail you employ in your discussions.

[devoradamaris]

ST. LAZARUS
ST. LAZARUS
ST. LAZARUS
BLESSED BE...ddevora
December 17, 2024

[Entropicalli]

Is it the holy spirit that is beckoned to perform the miracles though? I'd love a lecture on the holy sprit! Even though I was raised catholic, I really find it hard to understand how the holy spirit fits in.

[adamfrederick]

I was curious. You mentioned the high priests wanted to kill Lazarus as well. I've never heard that said before and was wondering where you have heard or read that before

[travisfox]

Lazarus as the beloved disciple makes a lot of sense. After his resurrection he becomes the beloved, his name no longer Lazarus. It would also fit the belief that the beloved would not die but witness the second coming. Christ had already brought lazarus from death. It may have even, in the community, have given Lazarus almost mystical power, being the first to come back from death and so they don't speak his name from that point on. He has become the "Beloved" disciple instead. It also explains why the guards wanted the young man in linen when they came to seize christ. Caliphus wanted christ and Lazarus both crucified. I am a lay person, however this has always made sense to me and been my take on the issue. Raised southern Baptist it's not one we discussed much. I'm glad to finally have some affirmation that at least some others think the same way.

[annayosh]

We do not just have notes of the Secret Gospel of Mark (or rather, the supposed letter by Clement of Alexandria), but there are also two sets of photographs, black-and-white photographs by the supposed discoverer from 1958 and color photographs from 1983. What however is missing is the original document, so scientists have not been able to test the ink and paper to check whether it is from the 16th/17th century like the text it was said to be connected to or from the mid-20th century as it would be if it were a recent forgery.

[JB-lovin]

I’ve listened to many of these videos, enjoyed them and value the effort. My question is, why would any Bible scholar retain faith in the divinity of Jesus or the nature (or even the existence) of the Judeo-Christian god?

[ნატოსირბილაძე]

Lazarus is a symbol of risen people in jesus

[danielmalinen]

Why is Papias of Hierapolis an unreliable source regarding the Johannine community? For example, Papias distinguishes John the Apostle and John the Elder as two different individuals, just like modern scholars, and names Ignatius and Polycarp as the most important leaders of the Johannine community during his own time and followers of John the Elder and Aristion, who had been disciples of John the Apostle?

[James-qouz]

I’m confused or need clarification. Does the gospel of John fore tell how long the “beloved disciple” will live twice or just once at the end of ch21? I thought the presenter said that the writer of John corrects a previous prediction that appeared earlier in John. Or is he correcting the prediction from previously written gospels only? I was looking through the book of John but couldn’t find a previous passage of the beloved disciple prediction of long life.

[barnabuskorrum]

I would attend "church" if the part where the priest talks, was more like this.

[JerrysDesciple]

It was a great discussion and presentation but home boy gives off some major Kane from Command and Conquer vibes

[tonymessinajr]

In a culture where people actually never take a bath a baptism would definitely be a refreshing new thing that would make me feel happy and clean it's just very logical

[jamesdewane]

I really appreciate how this presenter lays things out. His graphics are great!

I was surprised to hear that Matthew and Luke were nearly successful in their attempt to supplant Mark. When was Mark at its lowest ebb? Why was it nonetheless included in the canon? Who were its defenders?

The book of Mark was what brought me back from having discarded Christianity entirely. Though synoptic with Mt and Lk, it leaves out the vengeful parts of Mt and doesn't pedestalize Jesus as much as Luke.

There have been snippets in other videos, but I'd love to see a full exploration of what makes Mark distinctive from Paul, Mt, and Luke, theologically and otherwise. And I see Mark as consonant with what this presenter refers to as John 1.

Look at all the times Jesus is unrecognized in John or when he is hidden or disappears. Does anyone else get the idea that the author wants you to realize that Jesus (or the Christ) is always where you least expect him? In fact in everyone you meet and also in yourself?

[beyoncewomack]

If Lazarus was RESERECTED how did he grow old and die?it doesn't make sense to be brought back for a few years only to grow old and pass away, shouldn't he be RESERECTED again why would age and Jesus death stop it?

[jamalbaraja]

In the council of Nicaea, they chose only the 4 gospels from amongst many.
Why is that ?
The trinitarians in the council chose the gospels and writings of of Paul who changed the teachings of Jesus.

[sebolddaniel]

I wonder if Hey Jude has anything to do with Jude, the brother of James. You know they were as popular as God.

[sebolddaniel]

So why Hades in Luke? Is it really where Luke's Lazarus goes? Very Greek. What is Abraham doing in Hades? Maybe he sees Achilles