NT Characters: Lazarus

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/lazmp3/">website</a>.</p><p><strong>Background</strong></p><ul><li>If you haven't listened to the podcast on Mary & Martha, it might be good to listen to that one before this lesson on Lazarus, as they're integrally related.</li><li>He lives in Bethany (2 miles from Jerusalem), with his sisters; apparently there are no parents or children living in the home, but this surmise can never be proven.</li><li>His name, Greek, comes from the Hebrew <i>Eleazar, </i>which means something like "God is my help." (The help the rich man in Luke 16 would not give to Lazarus was lavished on him by the Lord, while the rich man's fortunes were completely reversed. Parable inspiration?)</li><li>As for Lazarus' character, nothing is known for sure. Yet we can rightly expect that, in terms of personality, there would have been a family resemblance. His sisters were faithful, devoted, giving, and "real." It isn't hard to imagine that Lazarus was a winsome individual; and as a fellow male, Jesus would easily have connected with him.</li></ul><p><strong>Scriptures read in this podcast:</strong></p><ul><li>John 11:1,3-4,5-6,11-15,17,33-37,38-41,43-44,45-46</li><li>John 12:1-2, 9-11, 17-19</li><li>John 13:23</li><li>Ephesians 2:1-6</li></ul><p><strong>Five facts about Lazarus' life</strong><br /> </p><ul><li>The dead man walks out of the tomb (John 11:44).<ul><li>Many come to faith as a result (11:45).</li><li>The notoriety this miracle accelerates the collision-course Jesus and the religious establishment are on.</li><li>Why was Jesus so deeply moved at this time? His emotion suggests his humanity (an emphasis in John), though (surely) also his divinity.</li><li>Was Jesus angry? <a href="http://www.douglasjacoby.com/q-a-0847-jesus-wept/"><strong>Find out</strong></a>.</li><li>Did Jesus wait the extra days to prove beyond all doubt that Lazarus was dead? Is it true that the Jews believed the soul hovered around the body for three days after de