Lazarus -- A Decaying Corpse Rises from Dead Quiz

Answer: Bethany

Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem. According to Luke 24:50-51, it was in the vicinity of Bethany that Jesus ascended into Heaven after his crucifixion. It was in the same community that Jesus was anointed with expensive perfume, as per John 12:1-11.

Answer: Mary and Martha

Mary and Martha are undoubtedly the best-known sisters in the New Testament and arguably the entire Bible. (The other well-known sister act is Rachel and Leah in the Old Testament.) Mary was known for taking time to listen to Jesus while Martha was known for being busy and upset with her sister for not helping her with household chores. See Luke 10:38-42 for details.

Answer: He stays where he was two more days.

Jesus opted to stay put for two more days. At first blush, it might appear Jesus was uncaring about the plight of Lazarus. However, Scripture reveals his illness was all part of a master plan. In verse 4, Christ states Lazarus' sickness "is not unto death." In the same verse, Jesus goes on to suggest Lazarus must first die so God may be glorified through his resurrection from the dead.

In verse 11, Jesus states "our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."

Answer: 4

Yes, four days is the correct answer. In other words, the funeral was over a long time ago and Lazarus was as dead as they come. According to Wikipedia, rigor mortis lasts for about 72 hours, or three days. In this case, the rigor mortis was over and now the body was starting to decay in the hot Mediterranean sun.

Answer: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died," is the correct answer. It's interesting to note that in verse 32, the second sister says the same words to Jesus. In other words, they're indirectly blaming Jesus for the death of their beloved brother Lazarus.

Answer: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."

The correct answer is "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." The verse is one of the cornerstones of Christianity. The three other incorrect answers are other statements Jesus makes in the Gospel of John.

They're known as the "I am" statements and many theologians link them back to Exodus 3:14, when God calls Himself I AM.

Answer: Jesus wept.

The correct answer is that Jesus wept. The weeping by Jesus was in response to the immense grief he saw in the sister of Lazarus who had come to meet him, as well as the mourning by the people who had accompanied her. Incidentally, John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the New Testament, consisting of only two words.

Answer: When the stone is removed, there will be a stench from the body.

The NKJV Bible quotes the sister of the dead man, saying, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." Remember his body was in a tomb in the hot Mediterranean sun. As stated in the answer to Question 4, it wouldn't be a case of rigor mortis being set in, it would be a case of decaying flesh.

The smell would be repugnant. In other words, Lazarus was a stinking corpse!

Answer: "Lazarus, come forth!"

"Lazarus, come forth!" is the correct answer. (In the NIV Bible, the statement is "Lazarus, come out.") And that's exactly what he did to the astonishment of everyone. It's amazing when Jesus raised people from the dead, He used few words. When He raised the widow's son in the Nain from the dead and Jairus daughter from the dead, He said seven words in each situation, for a total of 14 words, in the NKJV Bible. (In the NIV Bible, He said eight words in each situation, for a total of 16 words.) For details about Jesus raising the widow's son from the dead, see Luke 7:11-17. Details about Jesus raising the little girl from the dead can be found in Mark 5:21-43. (Please feel free to play two other quizzes I have compiled. One is about the widow's son and the other is about Jairus' daughter.)

Answer: "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." It must have been an incredible sight when Lazarus was raised from the dead. Only a few moments before, the people were mourning the death of Lazarus. Now there is unbelievable jubilation. According to John 11:45-57, the raising of Lazarus from the dead triggered events that led to the crucifixion of Jesus.

The chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin, and the rest, as they say, is history.