Why is the raising of Lazarus significant in the Gospel of John?+
The raising of Lazarus is one of the seven miraculous signs in John's Gospel and demonstrates Jesus's divine power over death. It serves as a dramatic affirmation of Jesus's identity as the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26) and shows His authority to fulfill what He promised about spiritual and physical resurrection. This miracle ultimately led to the plot to kill Jesus, moving Him closer to His own resurrection.
How long did Jesus wait before going to Bethany after hearing Lazarus was sick?+
John 11:6 states that Jesus stayed where He was two more days after hearing that Lazarus was sick. By the time He arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. This delay served a purpose: it allowed the situation to become clearly hopeless from a human perspective, which made the miracle more remarkable and glorified God's power.
What happened to Lazarus after he was raised from the dead?+
While John 11 does not provide extensive details about Lazarus's life after the resurrection, John 12:9-11 mentions that many people came to see both Jesus and the risen Lazarus. The passage also indicates that the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Lazarus because his resurrection caused many to believe in Jesus. Lazarus's fate after these events is not further documented in Scripture.