Lazarus the beggar

Lazarus the beggar was a poor man who was featured in a parable of Jesus (Luke, chapter 16). Lazarus, a diseased beggar, laid at a rich man's door, longing for scraps from the rich man's table. The beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham in heaven. The rich man also died, and his soul went into hell.

There, in torment he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham. He asked Abraham for pity. But Abraham said to him "Son remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is being comforted and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us, and anyone wanting to come to you from here is stopped at its edge, and no one over there can cross to us". (John 16:19-31).

There are two prominent people in the New Testament of the Bible with the name of Lazarus. The other Lazarus died and was miraculously brought back to life by Jesus.

The Lazarus who was brought back to life was a brother to Martha and Mary who lived in Bethany. The two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling Him "Sir, Your good friend is very very sick" (John 11:3). When Jesus and His disciples arrived at Bethany, they were told Lazarus had already been in His tomb for four days. Jesus told them to open the tomb, then Jesus looked to heaven, said a prayer to the Father, and then shouted "Lazarus come out." And Lazarus came out, wrapped in a grave cloth. Jesus told them "Unwrap him and let him go" (John 11:41-44).

Later, six days before the Passover ceremonies began, a banquet was prepared for Jesus honor, in which Lazarus, Martha and Mary attended. The resurrection of Lazarus so shocked the chief priest and Pharisees, they decided to kill Jesus "before the whole nation follows him, and then the Roman army will come and kill us . . . " (John 11:48). Six days later, Jesus was crucified.

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