LAZARUS (Acitapoz; Lazarus), the Greek con tracted form of the Hebrew proper name 111bN, TT: V Eleazar, God aids.' It is applied to two persons in the N. T.—Lazarus of Bethany, and Lazarus the beggar.
t. Lazarus of Bethany.—The story of Lazarus is a fragment—one of those wonderful episodes we sometimes meet with in the Bible. lt is told by only one evangelist. It is brief, simple, and graphic ; and there is a dramatic power in it not surpassed in sacred history. The story is intro duced abruptly, and the characters are all grouped before the reader's mind without a word of pre face, except a single note to identify Mary. It is evident the narrator takes it for granted that Lazarus was well known to his readers, and that la's sisters, Mary and Martha, were distinguished persons. The disciples of our Lord must all have been intimately acquainted with the family of Bethany, and, like their Master, deeply attached to them (John xi. 16) ; and the churches planted by them had, no doubt, often heard from their lips the account of the miracle. The notoriety of the miracle, and the public attention directed by it to Lazarus and his sisters, may account for the ab rupt way in which the story is introduced by John. Possibly, too, in his day—after the other disciples had passed away from the scene of their labours— doubts had begun to be cast on the reality of the miracle, or some legendary details to be added ; John consequently relates, in a brief but singularly striking manner, the whole facts and circumstances, thus leaving the authentic narrative on the perma nent inspired record. The name of Lazarus is not mentioned except in connection with the miracle. We have no direct information regard ing his social status, the sect or party to which Ile belonged, the events of his previous life, or the way in which he had become acquainted with Jesus ; nor are we told what effect the miracle produced upon him, or how the life so wonder fully prolonged was employed. It appears that his history, with the exception of this one event, was unimportant so far as the divine purpose in Revelation was concerned. The facts related are simply these :—He resided at Bethany with his sisters Mary and Martha. While Jesus was in
Perma, during the third year of his public ministry (see Robinson's Harmony of the Gospels), Lazarus was taken with a dangerous disease. His sisters sent a special messenger to inform Jesus, who re plied, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.' He remained in Perma two days longer, and then told his disciples that Lazarus was dead. It is probable that he died just about the time the messenger reached Jesus ; for Bethany of Pera (A. V. Bethabara ; see Lachmann! Tisch endorf, Alford, etc., in thc.) was about two days' journey from Jerusalem ; the messenger took two days to go ; Jesus remained two days in Peraea after his arrival ; he spent two more on the journey to Bethany, and when he reached the village Lazarus had already been in the grave four days.' In consequence of the rapid progress of decomposi tion in that climate, it was, and still is, customary to bury on the day of death. Jesus, after an inter • esting and affecting interview with the sisters out side the village, is taken to the grave. It was a cave (an-7)Xatap), and a stone lay upon it.' Jesus said, Take away the stone.' Martha remon strated : Lord, by this time he stinketh' (4,37) Uee—spoken evidently not as a mere supposition, but as ct fact—Alford, Stier), for it is the fourth day.' This made the miracle all the more won derful. Jesus said to her, Did I not tell thee, that if thou wouldest believe thou shouldest see the glory of God ?' Then they removed the stone, and Jesus said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me'—words uttered for the benefit of those standing around, that they might have visible demonstration of the truth of his Divine mission. Having finished his short prayer, He cried with a loud voice (q5copfj AcycLXv—which all could distinctly hear), Lazarus, come forth." And he that was dead came forth;bound hand and foot with grave-clothes : and his face was bound about with a napkin' (cf. Matt. xxvii. 59 ; Mark xv. 46 ; John xix. 4o ; xx. 6, 7—see article BURIAL). Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.' And so the story of Lazarus ends as abruptly as it began (John xi. 1-46).