The Raising of Lazarus as Midrash: John's Retelling of Ezekiel 37
In the Gospel, Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, dies and is resurrected. On the surface, it is a story of a personal miracle. However, the Gospel writers are intentional, especially John. As we've seen many times, there may be something deeper in this story.
I find it interesting that the raising of Lazarus appears only in the Gospel of John. It seems like the kind of story that would appear in all of the Gospels, but the Synoptics never mention it.
There is a popular assumption that the Lazarus mentioned in Luke¹ is connected, but there is no evidence that the two are the same person.
Lazarus - Elazar
Lazarus is the Greek form of the name, which means "G_D has helped."
The Hebrew name Elazar (אֶלְעָזָר, "G_D has helped") was common in the Second Temple period. Many Talmudic figures share some form of this name.
Nevertheless, a few key themes in the story of Lazarus's resurrection align with one of the most famous resurrection stories in the Bible.
Let's begin by recapping one of Ezekiel's most famous visions.
The Valley of Dry Bones
Ezekiel's prophecies were among the most fascinating in the Second Temple era. In Chapter 37, Ezekiel is set down in a valley full of bones. He is then commanded to prophesy over them.
As he speaks, the bones come together. Sinews, flesh, and skin cover them, but there is still no life in them. After he prophesies a second time, the Ruach enters, and the bones rise to life.