Speaking of Christ, John the Baptist said, He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3: 3)
John the Baptist was a humble man, and he knew that Jesus was greater than himself. For it was John the Baptist who pointed people to see the Lamb of God, instead of wanting people to see himself.
So was Lazarus a humble man.
In the Gospel of John, Lazarus is the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Lazarus sat with Jesus when the Lord was anointed two times in the two suppers prior to the Lord's crucifixion.
Lazarus sat with Jesus at the Last Supper before the Lord was crucified.
Lazarus stood at the cross of Jesus with Mary, the mother of the Lord, and with Mary Magdalene and other women.
Lazarus ran with Peter to the empty tomb on the first day of the week.
Lazarus was in the boat with Peter and the disciples while they were fishing after the Lord's resurrection; for there, it was Lazarus who said, It is the Lord. (John 21: 7)
Throughout the Gospel of John, the unidentified disciple is identified as Lazarus as the disciple whom Jesus loved.
In the heart of Jesus, there is something special about this family of Bethany: Lazarus, his sister Martha, and his other sister, Mary Magdalene. For it is written, Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. (John 11: 5)
Before the death of Lazarus, he never spoke of himself; and after the Lord resurrected him from death, all he did was speak about the Lord, and never about himself.
After his resurrection, Lazarus knew there was something different about himself. He knew he had a new body. He knew that he did not appear to people as he had appeared to them before his death. He also knew that people were coming to see him, perhaps more than they were coming to see Jesus. For at the supper for the Lord in the house in Bethany, six days before the Passover, Lazarus understood the words of John 12: 9---Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
Thereafter, Lazarus decreased in order for the Lord to be increased.
Never in the heart of Lazarus did he desire to be a celebrity because of his new status. Never did he want to be a gazingstock by placing himself on a pedestal, nor desiring the praise of men, nor by going on the road as the main event of a circus.
In the Bible, it is not uncommon for God to change the names of people for His purpose. Abram became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah. Jacob became Israel. Peter became Cephas. Saul became Paul. Therefore, in order for Lazarus to decrease that Christ would increase, Lazarus became John the Evangelist. Which means that Lazarus is the writer of the Gospel of John, the three epistles of John, and the last book of the Bible, The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For after his resurrection by Jesus of Nazareth, Lazarus not only had a new body, but he also had a new mind! Even in his death, the Lord enabled Lazarus to see things that the other disciples never saw. Who else, then, was more qualified to present Jesus as God in the Gospel of John? Who else had an understanding of things past, things present, and things future than Lazarus?
At the conclusion of the Gospel of John, it is written:
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. (John 21: 25)
Could these many other things which Jesus did be the things that Jesus did beyond the grave?
For in his death, Lazarus was enabled to see things through the mind of Christ and therefore to know that In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. (John 1: 1-3)
Who else would know from experience that Christ is Almighty God, from everlasting to everlasting?
Who else would know from experience the I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1: 8)?
As it was for Lazarus, so will it be for all people who place their faith and trust in Christ!
Just as Lazarus was raised up from death, so will we!
Just as Lazarus was given a new body, so will we!
Just as Lazarus was given a new mind, so will we!
Just as Lazarus was enabled by Christ to understand things past, things present, and things future, so will we!
John the Baptist was a humble man, and he knew that Jesus was greater than himself. For it was John the Baptist who pointed people to see the Lamb of God, instead of wanting people to see himself.
So was Lazarus a humble man.
In the Gospel of John, Lazarus is the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Lazarus sat with Jesus when the Lord was anointed two times in the two suppers prior to the Lord's crucifixion.
Lazarus sat with Jesus at the Last Supper before the Lord was crucified.
Lazarus stood at the cross of Jesus with Mary, the mother of the Lord, and with Mary Magdalene and other women.
Lazarus ran with Peter to the empty tomb on the first day of the week.
Lazarus was in the boat with Peter and the disciples while they were fishing after the Lord's resurrection; for there, it was Lazarus who said, It is the Lord. (John 21: 7)
Throughout the Gospel of John, the unidentified disciple is identified as Lazarus as the disciple whom Jesus loved.
In the heart of Jesus, there is something special about this family of Bethany: Lazarus, his sister Martha, and his other sister, Mary Magdalene. For it is written, Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. (John 11: 5)
Before the death of Lazarus, he never spoke of himself; and after the Lord resurrected him from death, all he did was speak about the Lord, and never about himself.
After his resurrection, Lazarus knew there was something different about himself. He knew he had a new body. He knew that he did not appear to people as he had appeared to them before his death. He also knew that people were coming to see him, perhaps more than they were coming to see Jesus. For at the supper for the Lord in the house in Bethany, six days before the Passover, Lazarus understood the words of John 12: 9---Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
Thereafter, Lazarus decreased in order for the Lord to be increased.
Never in the heart of Lazarus did he desire to be a celebrity because of his new status. Never did he want to be a gazingstock by placing himself on a pedestal, nor desiring the praise of men, nor by going on the road as the main event of a circus.
In the Bible, it is not uncommon for God to change the names of people for His purpose. Abram became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah. Jacob became Israel. Peter became Cephas. Saul became Paul. Therefore, in order for Lazarus to decrease that Christ would increase, Lazarus became John the Evangelist. Which means that Lazarus is the writer of the Gospel of John, the three epistles of John, and the last book of the Bible, The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For after his resurrection by Jesus of Nazareth, Lazarus not only had a new body, but he also had a new mind! Even in his death, the Lord enabled Lazarus to see things that the other disciples never saw. Who else, then, was more qualified to present Jesus as God in the Gospel of John? Who else had an understanding of things past, things present, and things future than Lazarus?
At the conclusion of the Gospel of John, it is written:
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. (John 21: 25)
Could these many other things which Jesus did be the things that Jesus did beyond the grave?
For in his death, Lazarus was enabled to see things through the mind of Christ and therefore to know that In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. (John 1: 1-3)
Who else would know from experience that Christ is Almighty God, from everlasting to everlasting?
Who else would know from experience the I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1: 8)?
As it was for Lazarus, so will it be for all people who place their faith and trust in Christ!
Just as Lazarus was raised up from death, so will we!
Just as Lazarus was given a new body, so will we!
Just as Lazarus was given a new mind, so will we!
Just as Lazarus was enabled by Christ to understand things past, things present, and things future, so will we!
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