Some might think it
strange that this miracle – probably the most powerful testament of the Christ
and one of the strongest anchor points for faith in His own soon-coming
resurrection – was excluded from those other narratives. However, a reasonable case has been made by
scholars that Lazarus was still alive during the writing of the other Gospels
and the writers did not want to stir up the Jews against him afresh; but by the
time John writes, it is believed that Lazarus had passed away (for the second
time) and was no longer in any danger by the telling of the story. We should also keep in mind that John writes
his entire Gospel with the intent that we might believe that Jesus is the Son
of the Living God. He tells us this intent for his book in Chapter 20:31 – “31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” This story of Lazarus is one of his anchoring
arguments for that purpose.
