Center for Biblical Theology and Eschatology
The Resurrection of Lazarus
A Type of Conversion
by Daniel E. Parks
The resurrection of Lazarus of Bethany from the dead by Jesus Christ is recorded in John chapter 11. This resurrection is typical of conversion in the following respects.
Lazarus was dead (v.14). His physical death is typical of our spiritual death, in which we are by nature "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). This death represents our separation from God, and has resulted from the sin of Adam (Genesis 2:16f; 3:6-8), the representative of the whole human race (Romans 5:12). The stench of Lazarus in his tomb (v.39) represents the repugnance of our sin and spiritual death in the nostrils of God.
Jesus loved Lazarus (vv.35f). Yea, Jesus loved Lazarus so much that He wept over him, causing observers to remark, "See how He loved him!" This love of Jesus to Lazarus is not that of His "tender mercies ... over all His works" and "every living thing" (Psalm 145:9,16f; Matthew 5:45f; Luke 6:35f; Mark 10:21f). Rather, this love is that of God to His elect (Romans 11:28), those whom He calls "precious in My sight" (Isaiah 43:4). It is that "everlasting love" which is effectual to the drawing of His elect to Him (Jeremiah 31:3). It results in their redemption (Isaiah 63:9). It is that love of which there is no "greater love" (John 15:13).
Jesus went to Lazarus (v.38). "Then Jesus ... came to the tomb." It was Jesus' intention to resurrect Lazarus (v.23). Lazarus was dead, and therefore could not come to Jesus. Jesus therefore had to go to Lazarus. The physical inability of Lazarus to come to Jesus for resurrection represents our own spiritual inability to come to Him for salvation. Jesus speaks of our inability when He says, "No one can come to Me" (John 6:44,65). And He speaks of His own coming to aid the incapable when He says "the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). If Jesus does not come to the lost, the lost will never be found, because they will not of their own will and volition come to Him.
Jesus resurrected Lazarus (vv.43f). "He cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!' And he who had died came out ...."
- Jesus resurrected Lazarus with a loud command: "a loud voice." He did so not because a loud voice was necessary for resurrecting the dead. A whisper, or even His thought, would have sufficed. Rather, He did so for the benefit of the unbelievers witnessing this event. If Lazarus obeyed, there should be no doubt in their minds that Jesus is indeed divine, since none but God can raise the dead (1 Samuel 2:6).
- Jesus resurrected Lazarus with a specific command: "Lazarus, come forth!" Regardless of how many corpses were in the vicinity of that tomb, none but Lazarus was to come forth. This is true because "the Son gives life to whom He will" (John 5:21). And this is true both in quickening the physically dead and the spiritually dead. None deserves to be quickened. But Jesus will quicken all His elect, those whom He loves as He loved Lazarus.
- Jesus resurrected Lazarus with an effectual command: "and he who had died came out." Jesus' decretive command cannot be disobeyed. Every one whom Jesus commands to be quickened and resurrected -- all God's elect -- shall be so without fail.
Jesus liberated Lazarus (v.44). "And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Loose him and let him go.'" Jesus commands the same for all whom He regenerates in conversion. All such converts are liberated from the encumbrances of spiritual graveclothes: old habits, the rags of self-righteousness which they formerly wore, the load of sin which they formerly bore, and the bondage of trying to be justified by Law-keeping (Galatians 4:21-31). Gospel preachers are to loosen the converted, and to exhort them to "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ..." (Galatians 5:1-5). God forbid that preachers should again place under the bondage of the Law or other ecclesiastical ordinances those whom Christ has liberated!