Who Was Lazarus in the Bible — In Biblical Context
Lazarus of Bethany was a close friend of Jesus whom Christ raised from the dead after four days in the tomb — one of Jesus' greatest miracles.
Lazarus of Bethany was a close friend of Jesus whom Christ raised from the dead after four days in the tomb — one of Jesus' greatest miracles.
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." — John 11:25-26 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
John 11 records the extraordinary story of Lazarus. He lived in Bethany with his sisters Mary and Martha, and they were close friends of Jesus. When Lazarus fell ill, the sisters sent word to Jesus, but He intentionally delayed His arrival until Lazarus had been dead four days. Martha expressed both grief and faith: 'Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died' (John 11:21). Jesus wept at the tomb (John 11:35 — the Bible's shortest verse), then commanded, 'Lazarus, come forth!' The dead man emerged, still wrapped in burial clothes. This miracle was so powerful that the Jewish leaders plotted to kill both Jesus and Lazarus (John 12:10). The raising of Lazarus demonstrated Jesus' authority over death itself and foreshadowed His own resurrection.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, John 11:25-26, sits inside John 11. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
Supporting Passages
"And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes."
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