What happened to Lazarus after Jesus raised him from the dead?

Response

John 11:1–44 recounts the story of Lazarus, a man who was brought back to life. Lazarus, along with his sisters Mary and Martha, was a close friend of Jesus. When he fell ill, his sisters sent for Jesus to come to Bethany. However, Jesus arrived four days after Lazarus had already passed away.

Martha was perplexed and saddened by the death of her friend Lazarus. Jesus reassured her by saying, “Your brother will rise again” «Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. », (John 11:23). Martha initially thought Jesus was referring to the final resurrection, but He was actually hinting at an imminent event.

Upon reaching Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus instructed the men to remove the stone blocking the entrance. He then called out, “Lazarus, come out!” «And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. », (John 11:43). The onlookers were astonished as Lazarus emerged from the tomb, still wrapped in burial garments. According to verses 45–46, many witnesses of this miracle believed in Jesus, while others informed the religious authorities. This extraordinary event marked a turning point, leading the Pharisees and rulers to conspire against Jesus. “From that day on they plotted to take his life” (verse 53).

The Jewish leaders not only sought to eliminate Jesus but also Lazarus: “So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus . . . because on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him” (John 12:10-11). The news spread rapidly, attracting numerous individuals eager to witness the resurrected man. Fearing the consequences, the Pharisees were greatly alarmed.Sees convened a meeting of the Sanhedrin, the governing body of Israel. Most likely, Lazarus was recounting his experience repeatedly, leading to the drastic decision of the Pharisees: Lazarus must die once more. In the obscured minds of the temple leaders, Lazarus, the most recent proof of Jesus’ assertion to be the Messiah, had to be eliminated.

Following Lazarus’ resurrection, he went back to the residence he shared with Mary and Martha (John 12:1-2). He was present when Mary poured costly perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. Understanding the recent miracle Jesus had performed, we comprehend why Lazarus’ sister was so overwhelmed with gratitude that she would go to such extravagant lengths. Lazarus might have been the sole provider for his sisters, and his passing could have meant destitution for both of them. Jesus had not only restored to them the brother they cherished but also the guardian and provider they required to survive.

The Bible does not provide any further details about Lazarus. Any additional information originates from church history and may or may not be accurate. One belief suggests that, following Jesus’ return to heaven, Lazarus and his sisters relocated to Cyprus, where Lazarus served as the bishop of Kition and passed away naturally in AD 63. Another theory proposes that Lazarus and his sisters traveled to Gaul to preach the gospel, and Lazarus became the bishop of Marseilles, where he was executed by beheading under Emperor Domitian’s rule. The fate of Lazarus remains unknown. However, we can be certain that his physical body experienced death once more. According to 1 Corinthians 15:51–53 and 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17, we know that Lazarus will be resurrected to join all of God’s saints in eternity.