In closing out the section of his Gospel scholars refer to as "The Book of Signs" (1:19-12:50), John records the wondrous Bethany episode - the raising of Lazarus. John alone tells this story. It is a miracle that is both a sign of Jesus' true identity and power and a portent of his own personal encounter with death once he reaches Jerusalem. Jesus' journey to Jerusalem is his first step towards that cross which awaits him.

As a hinge-event in Jesus' history, raising Lazarus reveals to Jesus' followers his true identity as the Messiah (v. 25), and gives those who are against him an even stronger motive for seeking his death {vv.47-48). While the actual historicity of Lazarus' resurrection is beyond the pale of critical scholarship, John's telling of this story is crucially important to the…