We Are Lazarus: A Lesson of Identification

The name Lazarus has become synonymous with resurrection. It is even used in comic books, as in the "Lazarus Pits" that certain characters use to resuscitate fallen comrades in the DC Comics universe. When something becomes so well-known, it also tends to be taken for granted. This is often the case with the actual Lazarus, the man who was raised from the dead by Jesus in John 11:38-44. For those of us who grew up in the church, we have heard the story of Lazarus so many times that the sheer wonder and shock of it has, tragically, worn off.

A good practice when reading and interpreting Scripture is to find characters we can identify with and learn from. There is a lot we can learn from Lazarus if we can identify with him in a deeper way. More importantly, we can rediscover the wonder of his one-of-a-kind, out-of-the-tomb experience, which leads to a greater appreciation for Jesus's declaration that He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).

From Lazarus's Perspective

Let us, for a moment, imagine what it was like for Lazarus to come out of that tomb. The experience must have begun with the hearing of a voice calling his name in the darkness. Was he dreaming? There it was again, that voice.

"Lazarus, come out!"

This time it was unmistakable. Someone indeed was calling his name, calling him to come out. But come out of what?

At this point, one might imagine Lazarus trying to get his bearings as he struggles with the linen cloths wrapped tightly around him, impeding his mobility. His eyes now uncovered, he walks toward the light of the tomb entrance, still not knowing where he is.

As he emerges, the light of day causes his eyes to strain, having been immersed in darkness for four days. When his eyes regain their focus, the first face he sees is the face of Jesus smiling at him.

At Jesus's instruction, Mary and Martha, the two sisters of Lazarus, remove the grave clothes from his body, cover him with a cloak, and take him home. What do you suppose Lazarus thought about on the way back?

“If I were Lazarus back from the dead, Jesus would be, without question, the most important person to me. I would be obsessed with Him.”

We can only speculate, but if I were him, I would be bewildered over what had just happened. I would have a million questions (and, no doubt, answering a million questions from others). But most of all, I would be in complete awe and wonder of Jesus, who brought me back from the dead. I would feel drawn to Him, like a duckling imprinted on its mother, and that connection could never be severed by any amount of time or distance. And I would feel indebted to him for giving me back my life. Whatever days I had remaining, I would want to live with Him and for Him, in a way that brings Him honor and glory.

In short, if I were Lazarus back from the dead, Jesus would be, without question, the most important person to me. I would be obsessed with Him.

The Rest of the Story

The Bible is silent on the rest of Lazarus's story. There are ancient traditions claiming that he became a bishop, but these are unproven. Still, we can make some reasonable assumptions about what kind of issues he may have dealt with in the latter half of his life.

First, we can assume that his reputation for being someone raised from the dead by Jesus of Nazareth was well-known. Such things are so rare that news of it undoubtedly spread far and wide. How would having such a reputation affect one's attitude and behavior?

“I would imagine that Lazarus was highly motivated to live a humble and pious life, glorifying God in response to the precious gift he had been given.”

For one thing, Lazarus would have done his best to live up to that reputation. To waste the precious gift of a second life would have invited scorn and derision from others, especially those who lost love ones who did not have the benefit of being raised by Jesus. I would imagine that Lazarus was highly motivated to live a humble and pious life, glorifying God in response to the precious gift he had been given.

Another reasonable assumption is that Lazarus would have had a unique reaction to the news of Jesus's death and resurrection. He would have been one of only three people (including the widow's son and Jairus's daughter) and the only adult at the time who had experienced death and resurrection for himself. While others, including Jesus's own disciples, might have had a hard time believing that the resurrection was real, Lazarus most likely believed and rejoiced in the news with great passion and conviction. It would have been evident to him that the One who raised him—the One who claimed to be the resurrection and the life—would Himself be raised by God.

Here's the Twist

Every good story has a twist at the end. Only, in this case, the twist doesn't happen to the protagonist, Lazarus. The twist happens to the reader, us.

You see, in every way that matters, we are no different from Lazarus. What happened to Lazarus also happened to us, only in a different form. Lazarus was raised physically; we who are in Christ were raised spiritually. Lazarus was known as one who was given life by Jesus; Christians are known as those who have eternal life in Jesus.

Here is where the similarities end for many believers. While we can speculate that Lazarus led a passionate and devout life of following and serving Christ for the rest of his days, we know that many people who call themselves followers of Christ today are not. In almost every local church, those who are living passionate, zealous lives full out for God are vastly outnumbered by those who are there simply to fill a seat once a week.

“In every way that matters, we are no different from Lazarus. What happened to Lazarus also happened to us, only in a different form.”

But all of us are Lazarus. All those who profess faith in Jesus as Savior have been raised from the dead and given a new life. And so all Christians are called and even obligated to live our lives fully devoted to the Lord, to honor and serve the one who raised us, and not to be counted among the lukewarm that are spit out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16).

Let us learn from this lesson of identification. How would you have reacted if Jesus raised you from the grave physically? Would you be filled with unending gratitude? Would you be a changed person, living each moment with intention and purpose for the glory of God? Would you be obsessed with the One who raised you?

Whatever your answer is, let's live it out now. Spiritual regeneration is no less real than physical resurrection. The moment we were saved, we may as well have walked out of a tomb with burial clothes wrapped around us. Let's live the rest of our lives the way we imagine Lazarus did because his story is our story. We are Lazarus.