I have for years promoted the idea that Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead was a developmentally disabled man. Though I never saw this idea in any authority, it seems to me to fit too well with the Scriptures to ignore. Deciding to write down the reasons why I think it is so consonant with the Bible, I began to research whether anyone else had ever argued similarly. Unfortunately, I found what was worse than no support: the same idea was put forward not too long ago by the sort of person whose reputation is so ruined that it calls into question anything he said. I do not intend to give up the theory merely because that man also had it, but I thought it necessary to mention this briefly to put aside any link between this theory and that man.
I would like to see St. Lazarus named a patron of the developmentally disabled and to serve as an example of their presence in the world of Jesus. In our eugenically murderous world where birth defects are “cured” by abortion, we do not see so many disabled people around us as would have been present in any first century village. There surely were such people around Jesus, so Lazarus might be exactly the right person to represent them.
There is no specific line in the Bible that unequivocally states that Lazarus was disabled in this way, but there are many elements to the stories about him which imply it. Here is a list:
1. Though a relatively important character in the New Testament, Lazarus not only never speaks but also never acts on his own. He is not named an apostle. He is not present outside of homes: his own and a neighbor’s. He has no presence in the Acts of the Apostles nor in the traditional stories of early Christians. Though there is a story of him being an apostolic bishop in France, this seems to be confusing him for a 4th century bishop also named Lazarus.
2. He lives in a home which is identified as the home of his sister Martha (Luke 10:38). Neither he, nor she, nor their sister Mary, are said to be married or have children. Nevertheless, Martha seems to be in charge of the household. When she appeals to an authority to get Mary’s help, she does not appeal to Lazarus but to Jesus (Luke 10:40)
3. The place where they all live is Bethany, which may mean “House of Misery”, and is a place where Simon the Leper is a neighbor of Lazarus (Matthew 26:6).
4. Martha and Mary’s message to Jesus about the illness of Lazarus says, “Lord, he whom you love is ill” (John 11:3). The message is not as might be expected, “Lord, Lazarus is asking for you.”
5. Using the same language as the sisters, Jesus seems to be teaching the disciples when he calls him, “Our friend Lazarus” (John 11:11). This way of referring to Lazarus is suggestive of how people still speak about the severely disabled: reminding others of their value by speaking of them as a loved one and friend.
6. The Jewish people who are present at the mourning are not there because of their own relationship to Lazarus but to comfort Martha and Mary (John 11:19).
7. The mourners seem surprised that Jesus had such strong feelings for Lazarus (John 11:36).
8. After Jesus raises him from the dead, he has him walk as proof of life (John 11:44). Jesus does not have him speak, though that might have been good evidence. This fits with the idea that he is non-verbal.
9. There is also no mention of Lazarus’ experience during those four days of death nor anyone asking him about them. The priests and Pharisees do not interrogate him like the man born blind (John 9:13-34) nor as they interrogated John the Baptist (John 1:19-28). They simply plan to kill him, as if he had no value in their eyes.
10. If people want to see Lazarus after Jesus raised him from the dead, it is necessary for them to come out to Bethany rather than wait for him to come to Jerusalem (John 12:9).
11. The story of the resurrection of Lazarus is only in John’s Gospel, though it would seem to have been a very important story, especially for Luke who speaks about Martha and Mary. Though it is a significant miracle, some element must have kept it from becoming a bigger part of the common story told about Jesus.
None of these points is enough to prove anything about who Lazarus was or was not, but if we go to the Gospels looking for someone with a developmental disability who could serve as an example for families with this experience, Lazarus fits quite well. Though I favor the idea that Mary of Bethany is Mary Magdalene, there is another possibility that fits her actions in the stories. She may also be autistic, though on a different place than her brother on the spectrum. Then Martha, who is already honored for her hospitality, becomes an important patroness for many similar people: a woman who has dedicated her life to caring for a disabled brother and a neurodiverse sister.
Thanks for your article. This morning I was reading this story in preparation for a Bible study and got stuck on verse 3: 'the one you love is ill'. It struck me as odd, since in John's gospel, John is the disciple Jesus loved. Why did it describe Lazarus in that way - a character who was the beneficiary of such an incredible miracle, but otherwise has no agency in the rest of Scripture? What was so special about this family that 11:5 says 'Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus'?
As I thought through the options, I began to picture in my mind a man who had Downs Syndrome, and all the rest of the passage suddenly made a lot more sense, as did the lack of mention of him by the other gospel writers. What an incredible love Jesus had for someone society would not have cared for at all.
It also throws up some interesting questions about the story of Mary & Martha. Was Mary also special needs in some way, or was she just overwhelmed with the fact that someone so important would care so much for her disabled brother? Either way, the perfume on the feet story makes a lot more sense, too.
It was after I had put a few of these thoughts together that I searched to see if anyone else had written about this idea or if I was going off piste somewhere. Your article pulled together a really convincing argument for the story behind the story. So, thanks for confirming my thoughts.
The website won't allow me to comment anywhere without paying, so I will make my heart known here. Your entire first paragraph on what you think needs to be done to Father Louis Leonelli makes me question how competent your bishop was/is in ordaining you. The Community needs reform. The Catholic Church needs reform. Your thoughts on his warranted public humiliation are sinful and sickening.