Gospel of John Study

[gibby]

I have made available a 29 week study in the book of John. It provides daily questions for the week. Some weeks have 5 questions, some 6, and some 7. Feel free to reproduce these questions for a small group study or whatever. If you use these questions on your site, could you link back to us here at the Lampstand? Thanks!


This is to get you in the habit of daily time with God. This is important time. It's like spending time with someone you love and care about. Share all your thoughts with Him and just talk to Him like you would a good friend. Remember also that He is a Holy God and deserves reverence in our prayers. Worthy is the Lamb!

Before you start, pray to God that He would lead you through His Word with His Holy Spirit and that He would reveal Himself to you in His Word.

Remember:
It's not religion, it's a relationship!

I must inform you all that I am no theologian; just a believer that wants to study God's Word with other believers. I formulated these questions in order to spark discussion over God's Word. I am a fallable human being so, just as in everything, test it with God's Word. Looking forward to studying the bible with you!

Gibby

You can download the attachment at the bottom of this post.

[JIP]

I have made available a 29 week study in the book of John.......Remember: It's not religion, it's a relationship! ..I must inform you all that I am no theologian; just a believer that wants to study God's Word with other believers. I am a fallable human being so, just as in everything, test it with God's Word. Looking forward to studying the bible with you! Gibby.

Hello Gibby my position is similar to yours in all respects. Am not a theologian. Nobody ever taught me the bible. I am just doing it myself with the help of the Holy Spirit and i am loving it.
Whenever you find me wrong please be free to correct me immediately.
BE BLESSED AS ALWAYS.
JIP

[Robert Cragg]

I would love to do the study my only question is do I have to have anwsers everyday?

[gibby]

You can do them at your own pace if you like.

[Elf]

I have made available a 29 week study in the book of John. It provides daily questions for the week. Some weeks have 5 questions, some 6, and some 7. Feel free to reproduce these questions for a small group study or whatever. If you use these questions on your site, could you link back to us here at the Lounge? Thanks!


This is to get you in the habit of daily time with God. This is important time. It's like spending time with someone you love and care about. Share all your thoughts with Him and just talk to Him like you would a good friend. Remember also that He is a Holy God and deserves reverence in our prayers. Worthy is the Lamb!

Before you start, pray to God that He would lead you through His Word with His Holy Spirit and that He would reveal Himself to you in His Word.

Remember:
It's not religion, it's a relationship!

I must inform you all that I am no theologian; just a believer that wants to study God's Word with other believers. I formulated these questions in order to spark discussion over God's Word. I am a fallable human being so, just as in everything, test it with God's Word. Looking forward to studying the bible with you!

Gibby

You can download the attachment at the bottom of this post.

Sounds interesting, when does it start?

[Elf]

Oops, sorry about double posts.

[gibby]

I actually made it available for download so people can do it on their own or use it in small group settings.

[GloryB]

Thanks Gibby. I am always looking for something interesting my 16 year old son and I can do together for our Bible Study at home. It's hard for me to get squeezed in between his socializing and PlayStation3 online gaming....but he does make time for me a couple of evenings a week.

[gracegreciagracet]

Thank you for providing the bible study resource to deepen our walk with God.

[princeoflight]

The key to understanding this comes from the scriptures that say:

The Disciple, the “Other One” the One Whom “Jesus Loved”

This is a significant understanding and hopefully you will see both the beauty and wisdom in the scriptures surrounding these accounts.

It' very important that everyone make an effort to worship God with his mind and not to worship the long established Roman Catholic Church with all its glitter and status in this world. So please take off your Papal Mitre and put on your Sherlock Homes Deer Stalker once again and let us obey the law given to Moses that Jesus made into the first commandment. It is still in force today, to serve not a church of men but our creator, the Ineffable True God, with our whole heart our whole mind our whole soul and our whole strength.

Now mainstream Christianity would have us believe that only Jesus and the apostles were present at the last supper. They would further have us believe that Jesus had a favorite apostle, namely John thereby having partiality which we know cannot be true.

He loved him more than the rest they say, because he wrote John 21 and so he was the one whom Jesus used to love as can be seen from verse 24. This seems to make sense because we all know that Leonardo Da Vinci only had Jesus plus the 12 at the last supper and because John did see Jesus come in vision as recorded in Revelation.

But there are a few problems with that interpretation.

1. People in the world do have favorites, but one cannot imagine that Jesus would be like that for every member of the body is just important as the next.

2. Nowhere in scripture is 'the one whom Jesus loved' called an apostle; he is always called a "disciple" and there is a good reason for that.

3. Jesus gave this person to his mother as her fleshly son. This means he must have had authority to do that, which means he must have been his fleshly father in some sense. Jesus was John's father in spirit, but not in flesh.

Furthermore Jesus as head of his family, being the firstborn son, and Joseph being dead, gave his mother to "the one whom he loved". Mary then went to live in his home. Why did he not give her to the second born son in his fleshly family? Jesus had 4 brothers...

55 Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? (Matthew 13).

He was making 'the one whom he loved' the head of his family, the head of his fleshly house. So he was giving his birthright to this one. So this one must have been his firstborn fleshly son. But how could Jesus who never got married, have a fleshly son?

Well let's do some detective work....

The first scriptures to consider are:

Jn 13:23
Now there was leaning into the bosom of Jesus one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Jn 19:26
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Jn 20:2
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

Jn 21:7
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt [his] fisher's coat [unto him], (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Jn 21:20
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

This question has perplexed many for some time. Most believe it is John who is leaning into Jesus' bosom since they assume that he is the one whom allegedly wrote this gospel about the famous character who is either referred to as “the disciple’” or “other disciple” throughout.

They believe he is basically "hidden" as the third person orator of this gospel for modesty reasons but there is no real evidence of this in the scriptures and is pure speculation and consequently incorrect for he had no reservations about his part in the book of Revelation. Now why such an important disciple in Jesus’ life would be kept hidden like this is a mystery to be sure but once you realize who he is, it makes much more sense! Without further ado, let us try to piece it together from all the clues given us shall we?

CLUE #1 – “Who Was Known” Now in this particular account we are told that this “other disciple” was known to the chief priest. At first glance you might think that they would know all of the disciples (or at least the 12 apostles) but they really didn’t. In fact we know that Peter, one of Jesus’ closest apostles, always hung out behind the scenes and out of view for the most part out of fear actually. But there is one disciple that all the Pharisees knew pretty well

Jn 18:15
Now Simon Peter, and another disciple, followed Jesus. Now that disciple was known to the chief priest, and he entered together with Jesus into the courtyard of the chief priest.

Jn 18:16
Yet Peter stood at the door outside. The other disciple, then, who was known to the chief priest, came out and told the doorkeeper, and he led Peter in.

So this disciple is well known, but who could it be?

Jn 11:36
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

They were saying this because they knew this disciple and his family well enough to understand the special relationship he had with Jesus for Jesus knew what would become of this particular disciple .

Jn 11:19
And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

I would guess by now you might be starting to put the puzzel together and if so it is becoming obvious that they were talking about "Lazarus" and his family.

Now we know that Lazarus' death was expected by Jesus for death was not the intent but it was for the glory of God and to be a sign for his disciples that Jesus was in fact the the Son of God. But when Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead it became a dangerous situation for him (Lazarus)....

Jn 11:45
Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
Jn 11:46
But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

So some of these Jews went to the Pharisees who were the chief priests that actually knew Lazarus.

Jn 12:9
Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
Jn 12:10
But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
Jn 12:11
Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

So Lazarus was certainly known by the chief priests as they wanted to kill him! The evidence forthcoming will show that this disciple is undoubtedly Lazarus and the verse above is a pretty good reason for keeping his name hidden all this time. In fact Jesus and the apostles referred to him as “so and so” in order to keep the Pharisees from knowing his whereabouts! We will now continue this investigation as any good biblical sleuth would.

CLUE #2 – “A Story of Love”. Now we know that Jesus loved all of His disciples so why does the bible go out of its way to tell us that this “other disciple” is the one that “Jesus loved”?

Jn 13:23
Now there was leaning into the bosom of Jesus one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Jn 19:26
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Jn 20:2
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

Jn 21:7
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt [his] fisher's coat [unto him], (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Jn 21:20
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

Now the bible does not arbitrarily say anything because we know that every word has power in the literal meaning if not in the greater symbolic meaning. Here are the only indicators in the entire span of the gospels of Jesus specifically loving someone. They are both witnesses to the same individual. The first was when Jesus explained that Lazarus’ death was for the glory of God through the glory of His Son Jesus. The second was when the Jews saw Jesus weep before going to the sepulchre where Lazarus was laid to rest.

Jn 11:5
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

Jn 11:36
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

We also have one more scripture of Jesus loving someone with regards to the “one running, and kneeling to him” in Mk 10:17 who we do not know.

Mk 10:21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, one thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, and follow me.

If this by some chance is Lazarus, then one would have to believe that he did sell everything and followed Jesus. You can see why Jesus would be so fond of someone who did such a thing! We will do more research on this!

CLUE #3 – “The Bosom” It is understood by many Christian scholars that being in the bosom of someone is the same as being in a covenant with that someone as son (singular) or as wife (a group) at some point. This is best exemplified by the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Lazarus after he dies ends up in the "Bosom of Abraham" due to his faith. Abraham is the Father of all of those who die in a condition of faith as part of the First Abrahamic Covenant (1AC). Here are the scriptures with regard to the rich man and Lazarus.

Lk 16:22
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into "Abraham's bosom": the rich man also died, and was buried;
Lk 16:23
And in Hades he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and "Lazarus in his bosom".

So Abraham is Lazarus’ eternal father at this point. There is a second witness to this concept of what being in the bosom of someone means in John.

Jn 1:18
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten God, which is "into the bosom of the Father", he hath declared [him].

So this being in the bosom is like being betrothed spiritually into that person. Well this “other disciple”, “who Jesus loved” was also in someone’s bosom.

Jn 13:23
Now there was "leaning into the bosom of Jesus" one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

So there must be a spiritual connection with this “disciple whom Jesus loved” that places him in the bosom of Jesus. Well to be in that position, Jesus must already possess his human soul through an agreement of some kind. The only people in this category that I know of are those who Jesus resurrected from the dead physically.

Although Jesus resurrected more than one person, in fact He resurrected two others before Lazarus, Jairus’ 12 year old daughter Talitha and the young son of a widow in the city of Nain . Both of these were said to be given back to their parents by Jesus. There is good reason for this as they were not of age for priesthood yet.

But Jesus did resurrect one other person, the only one whom is identified as being loved by Jesus and that is Lazarus who was of priestly age. And Jesus said after having the stone rolled away from Lazarus’ tomb.

Jn 11:43
….., with a loud voice he cried out, 'Lazarus, come forth;'

Jn 11:44
and he who died came forth, being bound feet and hands with grave-clothes, and his visage with a napkin was bound about; Jesus saith to them, 'Loose him, and suffer to go.'

So Lazarus, after being resurrected by Jesus, would put him into His bosom from a legal standpoint since Jesus is now his Father through the resurrection. So Lazarus fills both of these requirements.

CLUE #4 – “Reclining at Meat (meal)” This term was used often when Jesus was having supper with his disciples. This is also one of the stumbling blocks that have confused many into believing that the “other Disciple” had to be John since they assume that Jesus only ate this meal with the twelve, but did he? Here are the scriptures relating to each account of the Passover meal. The first being the preparation commands prior to the Passover itself.

At first sight it just looks like Jesus celebrated the passover with his 12 disciples. Not with 13 disciples, but with 12. But So-and-so was a Jew as were Jesus and the 12 disciples, so they would all have celebrated the passover together. And Jesus would not have excluded So-and-so or his family from celebrating with him. Indeed such a thing would have been unlawful.

But who was this guy So-and-so and why is he given this non-descript designation? Well, in John 12 we read that...

1 Accordingly Jesus, 6 days before the passover [The last supper], arrived at Bethan, where Lazarus was whom Jesus had raised up from the dead.
2 Therefore they spread an evening meal for him there, and Martha was ministering, but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him (John 12).

Now that is pretty interesting. Six days before the last supper Lazarus is reclining with Jesus at the table at an evening meal. Imagine you were Lazarus and you had been raised from the dead by Jesus and you had eaten an evening meal with him 6 days before the passover. Would you not want to eat the passover with him too? The law said that the passover should be eaten in Jerusalem . So Lazarus would have gone up to Jerusalem to a friend's house there to eat the meal with his sisters. But why So and so? Well we already know that the Pharisees sought to kill Lazarus so it was important to hide his identity.

Now let’s examine the rest of the scriptures surrounding the last supper:

Mt 26:20
Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

Now sitting down with the twelve does not exclude others from being there. We know that so and so must be there since Jesus stated that they would celebrate it with him!

Mt 26:21
And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Mt 26:22
And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
Mt 26:23
And he answered and said, He that dippeth [his] hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

The question you have to ask here is why “one of you” and not “one of you twelve” as mentioned before. We can surmise from this that there were more than the twelve there. Not only that, you must pay particular attention to the verses Mat 26:23, Mk 14:20 and Jo 13:26 as it will give a vital clue to all of this.

Mk 14:17
And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

So again we are told he came with the twelve (the twelve he sat down with in Matthew) But this still does not mean that there was no one else already there at the table only that Jesus came with “the twelve”.

Mk 14:18
And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

Now it would be easy to assume Jesus is only talking to “the twelve” here, but is he, after all this is a pretty broad term?

Mk 14:19
And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, [Is] it I? and another [said, Is] it I?
Mk 14:20
And he answered and said unto them, [It is] one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

So now he is confirming it is “one of the twelve” that are dipping in the dish. Why say unto them it is one of “the twelve” unless there is someone there who is not of the twelve to point this out to? Since Jesus is quantifying this we must surmise there are more than the twelve in the room. Maybe the answer is in Luke’s explanation of the account.

Lk 22:14
And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

Again this does not place any restriction on others being there.

Lk 22:15
And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

Not to the twelve specifically. After this are many verses surrounding the cups and other matters that don’t pertain to the issue at hand. There is however, one verse in the “Gospel of John” that is worded very carefully again to emphasize the disciple whom Jesus loved:

Bear in mind that before this event in John, there are no scriptures that mention “the twelve” at meal.

Jn 13:21
These things saying, Jesus was disturbed in spirit, and testifies and said, "Verily, verily, I am saying to you that one of you will be giving Me up."
Jn 13:22
The disciples [not apostles], then, looked at one another, being perplexed concerning whom He is speaking.
Jn 13:23
Now there was leaning into the bosom of Jesus one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Jn 13:24
Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him [the one whom Jesus loved in verse 23 (Lazarus)], that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Jn 13:25
He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
Jn 13:26
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped [it]. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave [it] to Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon.

Now in verse 23 the one “leaning into the bosom of Jesus” is called a “disciple” and not an apostle which is peculiar since the rest are called apostles. But we have to remember that every word has power and there are no wasted words in the scriptures. So it had to be Lazarus leaning on His breast. Now consider this important piece of the puzzle: Jesus told Lazarus who it was who would betray Him, but this information was not passed on to the rest of those at the table or in the room! We know this because none of them knew why Jesus told Judas that what he must do to do it more quickly:

Jn 13:27
And after the morsel, then, Satan entered into that man. Jesus, then, is saying to him, "What you are doing, do more quickly."
Jn 13:28
Now no one of those lying back at table knew to what purpose He said this to him.

So only the one lying in his bosom did! They thought since he had the money purse that he was going to buy some provisions for the celebration!!!!! This is where you have to spot the difference! In Matthew and Mark, Jesus states that it is the one that dips with Him in the common bowl that should betray Him. Now I am guessing that everyone in the place probably dips into the common bowl. That is why Jesus later explains that it is one of the twelve, because he felt everyone in the place was deeply concerned it might be one of them!

However in John, the story is completely different when he answers Lazarus, as Jesus dips the sop into the bowl Himself and gives it to Judas! Only Lazarus was given this vital information for verse 13:28 says “none of those lying back at table knew”. This purposely leaves the one leaning on His bosom out of the group!

CLUE #5 – The “Last Disciple Standing” Jesus was speaking to all of those disciples with Him in the beginning of this account when He manifested himself again in the flesh after being raised from the dead. I am certain that Lazarus was in that group. Jesus focused the rest of this conversation to Peter.

Jn 21:18
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry [thee] whither thou wouldest not.

Jn 21:19
This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Jn 21:20
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved [Lazarus] following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

So this “other disciple” [Lazarus] was following them at a distance behind however it is not known whether he was in earshot or not. But the conversation gets very interesting….

Jn 21:21
Peter seeing him [the disciple whom Jesus loved] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what [shall] this man [do]?

Now the thing we have to ask is why would Peter specifically single out “the disciple whom Jesus loved” in asking this question? If he were one of “the twelve”, what would make him so special as to bring it to our attention in such an obvious manner? As we will see, it is a good one! The reason being as Peter knows that Lazarus has already paid his wages as far as sin goes because he died already! Jesus replies succinctly:

Jn 21:22
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he remain until I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me.

In other words do not worry about Lazarus, worry about yourself and follow me as I have instructed you since you haven’t paid your wages yet and must take care not to lose what you have.

Jn 21:23
Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he remain till I come, what [is that] to thee?

So Peter singled this other disciple whom Jesus loved out because he was different than all of the other disciples! Not only that, he knew that Lazarus should not die.

CLUE #6 – “Spirit Connection”. Only one of Jesus’ disciples recognized him in the next account. Why is that? Well when you carefully review the following verses you will understand.

Jn 21:4
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
Jn 21:5
Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
Jn 21:6
And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
Jn 21:7
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt [his] fisher's coat [unto him], (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

How could “that disciple whom Jesus loved” know it was the Lord, but no one else was able to discern it? Could it be because Lazarus, being raised from the dead and having developed a keen awareness of Jesus (not to mention great hearing ability!) have something to do with it? Of course it could, he was in his bosom as his son!

CLUE #7 – “The Art of Entrusting” The next account has been interpreted in a number of ways because this first verse is written very ambiguously. The focus however is on “His mother, sister of His mother, Mary of Clopus and Mary Magdalene. However it is what is not mentioned in this verse that we are concerned with; it is what is omitted that we must consider.

Jn 19:25
Now there stood beside the pale [cross] of Jesus His mother and the sister of His mother, Mary of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

Now we know Jesus’ mother Mary is there, His mother’s sister is there (not sure if it’s Martha or the other Mary who is also Martha’s sister (she lived with Martha) because we also have Mary of Clopas making an appearance. So all we know for sure is that His mother’s sister (Martha or Mary) is there, Mary of Clopas is there and of course Mary Magdalene. Whatever the case, what happened to Lazarus who in almost every account is with these women?? Why would he not be with them at the most important event in scriptural history? Well perhaps maybe he is….

Jn 19:26
Jesus, then, perceiving His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by [His mother and company], is saying to His mother, "Woman, lo! your son!"

Jn 19:27
Thereafter He is saying to the disciple, "Lo! your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own.

Now the fact that the scripture used the term disciple and not apostle may be significant here, but is not enough to prove anything, however when you stop to think about it, who else would Jesus entrust something so dear to Him? Would it not be the one who is in His bosom, the one he loved, His spiritual and fleshly son! Lazarus is the only one who fits this description scripturally as far as we are able to determine. In other words, She is Lazarus’ mother by virtue of being Jesus mother and he is her son by the same reasoning as was explained at the beginning of this work!

CLUE #8 – “Every Word Has Power” Now at first glance many would perceive this verse as telling us that the mystery character is John and not Lazarus since this is called “the Gospel of John”, however, if you pay close attention to detail you will note that this is not true!

There are actually two separate endings to the “Gospel of John” and the first one is not canonical from what we can tell as it does not follow the exact literary style that the rest of the gospels do. Here are our proofs…..

You can see that there was a pseudo ending to the scripture in John 20, yet it continues as if thise was not included in John 21.

30 To be sure, Jesus performed many other signs also before the disciples, which are not written down in this scroll.
31 But these have been written down that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that, because of believing you may have life by means of his name. (Jo 20)

This almost looks as though it is the end of the book; however chapter 21 is a whole new account added in and has a somewhat different ending to it!

24 This [Lazarus] is the disciple that bears witness about these things and that wrote these things, and we [apostolic pillars of the church, John, Peter, James] know that the witness he gives is true.
25 There are, in fact, many other things also which Jesus did, which, if ever they were written in full detail, I suppose, the world itself could not contain the scrolls written. (Jo 21)

The disciple (not apostle) being explained in verse 24 is “that other disciple whom Jesus loved”; the one Peter thought “should not be dying”.

I believe that the evidence overwhelmingly proves that Lazarus is that disciple and not John.

One other note:

In Corinthians it is written that Jesus appeared to Ce’phas then to the twelve. (1 Cor 15:5). This took place before Judas was replaced by Mathias so “the twelve” likely included Lazarus!

Blessings,
Bill