What Happened To Lazarus?

[ServingHim]

I think he obviously died twice. Just as the girl that Jesus raised from the dead also did.

I agree as well, and agree with DivineLadyB that NOT ALL is contained in the bible... :il:

[Khristeeanos]

Just like with Joseph, nothing else was written about him.

I think that Joseph (if you are talking about Jesus' earthly father) passed away before Jesus' ministry.

The reason I say this is because Jesus' mother and brothers/sisters followed Him around some and no mention is made of Joseph being there. It is not in Scripture, but I would say that if God foreknew that He would send His Son to us, He would most certainly not pick someone whom He knew would leave (divorce) his wife, the mother of Jesus.

And the Gospel of John records as Jesus was hanging on the cross, He told (probably) The Apostle John to care for His mother.

This would have been unnecissary if Jospeh was around and capable to care for Mary. From my understanding, Jesus knew that The Apostle John would outlive all other Apostles and it made sense because he was also maybe the youngest.

If any information herein is incorrect, please correct me with correct information.

[Orr v'emet]

But I have a "theory", that the "soul" of a person does not normally depart the body and return to God immediately upon death, but may linger for a short time (3 days?) before rising to the Father.

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

[stevehut]

I always just assumed his lived out his life and died of old age..

Never thought about it until this moment, but yes, I tend to agree. Since the Bible is silent on it, all we can do is speculate.

[stevehut]

However, we do know that when Jesus ascended to the father, He led those held in captivity (death?) captive in His train. So it is possible that the "graves were opened, the dead arose, and were taken up",

You don't suppose that maybe Lazarus was still living when Jesus died? I dunno.

[Nero's Fiddle]

But I have a "theory", that the "soul" of a person does not normally depart the body and return to God immediately upon death, but may linger for a short time (3 days?) before rising to the Father.

Well, Lazarus was dead for four days before he rose.

Furthermore, we know that Jesus' soul did not remain in His body, as He preached to and led out of captivity those souls who were in Abraham's Bosom, right?

It is the soul which animates the body, and if the body is not corrupted past the limit of usefulness, THEN there is no reason the soul cannot reanimate the body.

Lazarus' body had already probably begun to decompose slightly, or at the very least an enormous amount of the bacteria associated with decomposition must have accumulated on and in him... his sister warned Jesus that he would smell.

Either way, his body most likely wouldn't have been what you'd call "useful."

We know that Jesus' body wasn't! He was scourged, "marred beyond any man", crucified, and then stabbed in the side (water proceeded from His wound, implying the collapse of the chest cavity.)

In Him,

NF

[Ovedya]

Well, he was there on the day before the Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and He ate dinner with him! (John 12:2)

Maybe Lazarus was there when the other saints resurrected on the day of the Lord's death. Lazarus strolled about town with the rest of them...

[stevehut]

1- I have a "theory", that the "soul" of a person does not normally depart the body and return to God immediately upon death...Well, Lazarus was dead for four days before he rose.

2- Lazarus' body had already probably begun to decompose slightly, or at the very least an enormous amount of the bacteria associated with decomposition

1- Maybe the miracle of his raising was the exception to whatever the rules were?

2- Isn't that why his "coming forth" was called a miracle? Again, I think maybe the regular "rules" were suspended for this occasion.

[Dad Ernie]

I agree with God-man:

God Bless,

Dad Ernie

[FaithfulFollower]

I am truly pleased to see so many thoughts being openly expressed for this indeed is a question that perhaps no one may know the defident answer to. The life Lazarus led after his resurrection is something that will truly intrigue me for some time. Guess when we all get to those big pearly gates such things will no longer be a mystery. Thank you all once again for your thoughts...truly insightful.

With Love In Christ,

Danielle