Christ raises Lazarus (John 11:1-44)

The raising of Lazarus from the dead is one of three resurrection miracles included in the gospels. The story, which is told in detail, is found only in St John’s gospel. It describes how a man named Lazarus, who was close to Christ, fell dangerously ill and then died. Christ knew that this had happened, and went to see him.

Pope Francis summarises the story: “Lazarus was Martha and Mary’s brother; they were good friends of Jesus. When Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has already been dead for four days. Martha runs towards the Master and says to Him: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died!” (v. 21). Jesus replies to her: “Your brother will rise again” (v. 23) and adds: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (v. 25). Jesus makes himself seen as the Lord of life, he who is capable of giving life even to the dead.”

The pope went on: “Then Mary and other people arrive, in tears, and so Jesus — the Gospel says — “was deeply moved in spirit and troubled…. Jesus wept” (vv. 33, 35). With this turmoil in his heart, he goes to the tomb, thanks the Father who always listens to him, has the tomb opened and cries aloud: “Lazarus, come out!” (v. 43). And Lazarus emerges with “his hands and feet bound with bandages and his face wrapped with a cloth” (v. 44).”

He added: “Here we can experience first hand that God is life and gives life, yet takes on the tragedy of death. Jesus could have avoided the death of his friend Lazarus, but he wanted to share in our suffering for the death of people dear to us, and above all, he wished to demonstrate God’s dominion over death. In this Gospel passage we see that the faith of man and the omnipotence of God, of God’s love, seek each other and finally meet.”

St John’s gospel says that some of the people who had been present informed the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem about the miracle. After a discussion, the high priest and his council decided that Jesus had become a troublemaker, and agreed to have him put to death. There is prophetic mystery in the fact that it was the resurrection of Lazarus that led to Christ’s own death.

This painted panel of the raising of Lazarus is found within St Michael’s Cemetery Chapel, in Sheffield. It was created by Nathaniel Westlake in 1884 and forms part of a wider scheme of resurrection paintings that adorn the sanctuary. The overall theme of the chapel, as befits its location in a graveyard, is the resurrection of the dead.

The painting pictures the dramatic moment that Christ ordered Lazarus to emerge from the tomb, to the surprise of his two sisters. Accordingly, the scene is captioned with a quotation from John 11:43, Jesus cried out: Lazarus come forth. The miracle takes place in what looks like an Italian garden, with cypress trees growing in the background.

The mural scheme also features a comforting quotation from St Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians (4:15-17) about the resurrection at the end of time. The three other resurrection miracles pictured in the sanctuary are of Christ raising a widow’s son and the daughter of Jairus, as well as St Peter restoring Tabitha to life (Acts 9:36-43).

See the full image:

Detail of Lazarus emerging from the tomb:

The sanctuary with its resurrection scheme:

Where to find this work of art
St Michael’s Cemetery Chapel, Sheffield

Read the relevant passage
John 11:1-44

On a similar theme

• In the Old Testament: The Prophet Daniel was spared death after being sealed within the lion’s den.
• In the New Testament: It was just before performing this miracle that Christ declared himself to be ‘the Resurrection and the Life‘.