Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opinion, Jesus resurrected Lazarus both because of His love for Lazarus, Mary, and Martha (and, by extension, His sympathy for the grief and also the economic hardship of Mary and Martha created by Lazarus' death), and (as Jesus Himself noted in John 11:4) as an undeniable testimony of His Messianic identity to the many people who had gathered to comfort Mary and Martha following Lazarus' passing, or to His opponents who would subsequently hear of the event (John 11:45-53).

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Kelli Trujillo Supporter Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Teacher, Musician

I agree with what has been stated in others’ answers, that Jesus raised Lazarus because he loved Lazarus and his family, and also to demonstrate Jesus’ divinity, power and authority over death. By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus demonstrated that there is literally NOTHING that God can’t fix, not even death. I believe this should strengthen our faith when we’re praying for ourselves and others who are facing very serious issues.

But I have always believed this account can be applied to us in other ways for our instruction: 

Jesus called Lazarus from death to life: Whether we realize it or not, without Jesus we are just like Lazarus, dead in our transgressions (Eph. 2:1). I like to believe that the condition of Lazarus in the grave is meant to help us to understand the severity of our sin. Too often people don’t really see themselves as “all that bad,” or they think that somehow their sins aren’t as bad as the sins of others. When we look at Lazarus prior to being raised to life, we should see our true spiritual condition apart from salvation in Jesus Christ: dead, breathless, hopeless, cut off from everything and everyone who is truly alive, cut off from God Himself.

It was Jesus who called Lazarus out of the grave. NO ONE can save us but Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5).

Even though Lazarus was dead, he “heard” Jesus’ voice calling to Him. This gives me hope and faith to pray for my friends and loved ones who seem lost beyond hope. This account in Lazarus shows us that when Jesus wants a dead person to hear His voice, He will make sure it happens. Don’t stop praying for those who seem hopelessly lost! (Rom. 9:15)

Lazarus was raised from the dead and able to walk out of the tomb, but he was still bound. This is a picture of what a new believer often looks like. The person has just been born again and redeemed, but he or she is still wearing “grave clothes” from his or her past. These grave/death clothes might be outright sin, bad habits, worldly ways of thinking that need to be transformed to godly ways of thinking, etc… Notice that Jesus told the others standing around to unbind Lazarus (John 11:44). The new believer needs the assistance of brothers and sisters in Christ to help him or her grow in Christ and gradually shed all of his or her grave clothes from the past. This is why fellowship in a solid, Bible-teaching church and/or possibly a good Bible study is so vital to ALL believers, but especially a new believer.

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Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

The Gospel of John explicitly states that Jesus raised Lazarus "so that they may believe". (John 11:15) So this was a sign for belief. 

In John 11:15, Jesus explicitly states that He was glad He was not there when Lazarus died “so that you may believe.” The raising of Lazarus was a powerful sign meant to strengthen the faith of His disciples and others who witnessed it.

Here are a few key reasons why Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead:

1. To Demonstrate His Power Over Death

Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)
This miracle proved that Jesus had divine power over life and death, foreshadowing His own resurrection.

2. To Strengthen the Faith of His Disciples

Jesus told His disciples plainly that Lazarus had died and that He allowed it so that they may believe (John 11:14-15).
The disciples had seen Him heal the sick, but raising a man who had been dead for four days was an even greater revelation of His identity as the Son of God.

3. To Reveal God's Glory

When Jesus heard of Lazarus’ illness, He said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)
This was not just a compassionate act—it was a deliberate sign to reveal God’s power and Jesus’ divine nature.

This miracle or sign was about Jesus’ Deliberate Delay.

When Jesus first hears that Lazarus is sick, instead of rushing to heal him, He stays where He is for two more days (John 11:6). This delay seems intentional and even confusing. Why would Jesus, who loved Lazarus and his sisters (Mary and Martha), allow him to die?

The answer lies in His words to the disciples:
“Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.” (John 11:14-15)

Jesus allowed Lazarus to die so that the disciples could witness an even greater miracle—one that would challenge them to trust Him on a deeper level.

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