Hitchhiker's Guide to Religion
Biblical

Lazarus

The Man Who Died Twice

Biblical Death, resurrection, the power of Jesus over the grave Early 1st century CE; the event is dated to c. 30–33 CE, shortly before the Passion; textual attestation in John's Gospel (c. 90–100 CE) Bethany on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, 2 miles from Jerusalem (John 11:18)
Portrait of Lazarus
Portrait of Lazarus
Rank Disciple / Friend of Jesus
Domain Death, resurrection, the power of Jesus over the grave
Period Early 1st century CE; the event is dated to c. 30–33 CE, shortly before the Passion; textual attestation in John's Gospel (c. 90–100 CE)
Alignment Holy
Power COMMON 52

Attributes

ATK
10
DEF
60
SPR
70
SPD
25
INT
50
CHA
67
WIS
73
END
57

Combat Profile

ATK DEF SPR SPD INT CHA WIS END
Special Move

Resurrection

Lazarus returns to life after death, embodying divine grace and the promise of eternal resurrection through faith.

Passive

Witness to Divinity

Lazarus's presence radiates the certainty of resurrection, granting spiritual clarity and hope to those who believe.

The raising of Lazarus is the final sign in John’s Gospel and the event that triggers the conspiracy to kill Jesus. The four-day detail matters: by Jewish understanding, the soul had fully departed. This wasn’t resuscitation — it was resurrection. The aftermath is equally remarkable: “a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well” (John 12:9-10). They wanted to kill the evidence. Augustine noted the dark humor: they planned to kill a man already proven capable of being un-killed. Lazarus never speaks a single word in the Gospel — the most famous silent character in the NT. He had to die again eventually — making him the only person in Scripture who experienced death twice.

1 min read
Primary Source

John 11:1-44, 12:1-11

Early 1st century CE; the event is dated to c. 30–33 CE, shortly before the Passion; textual attestation in John's Gospel (c. 90–100 CE) — See in timeline
← Back to Biblical