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The Resurrection of EleazarThe New Testament was originally written mostly in Greek because it was the "world language" of the time, a product of the Greek empire (see Ancient Empires - Greece) in the same way that English is used around the world today because of the British empire. The result was that many actual Hebrew names were recorded in their Greek version, which was then translated, and transliterated, into English. The Greek name "Lazarus" is derived from the leazar in the Hebrew name Eleazar i.e. the man known as Lazarus was actually named Eleazar, which in Hebrew is pronounced ale-aw-zawr."He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes ... Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go" The most famous "Lazarus" of Bible History was the brother of Martha and Mary, all of whom were close friends of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Lazarus / Eleazar is one of the most well-known events of the Bible - and was the culminating event from which the chief priests and the Pharisees made their final decision to assassinate The Messiah.
"11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 11:2 It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair [see Miriam Of Bethany], whose brother Lazarus was sick. All humans are subject to death, sooner or later, but some humans have been temporarily resurrected for a purpose. Despite the pleas of Martha and Mary, Jesus deliberately stayed away and allowed Lazarus to die "for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."
"11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Upon Jesus' arrival, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Martha and Mary knew that Jesus had been only a short distance away and were grieving, not merely because their brother had died, but because Jesus had not come when they called. They did however at least understand that a resurrection was coming: "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus was about to show them that, although Lazarus would be resurrected at that future time (see the Fact Finder question below), he would also be awakened then, as a testimony to the Gospel.
"11:17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 11:18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 11:19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Lazarus' resurrection was a product of faith: "Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"
"11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 11:34 And said, Where have ye laid him? The resurrection of a man four days dead should have been a joyous event, not merely for those who had a friend restored to them alive, but for everyone because it proved everything about the Christ. But the religious authorities, in the most stunningly bizarre logic, decided to kill the Christ because they feared losing their worldly position if everyone began to look to the Christ: "If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation." The High Priest was the only one who had a clear view, albeit brief.
"11:45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 11:46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council [see The Sanhedrin], and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
Fact Finder: Why were some people, including Lazarus, temporary restored to physical life?
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