The Lost Gospel of Lazarus

In the New Testament, we are told that Jesus resurrected a beloved friend named Lazarus from the dead. Yet the Gospel of John – which contains this episode – does not tell us how Jesus accomplished this miracle or if he had a special purpose for saving his companion... In The Gospel According to Lazarus, Zimler narrates this mysterious and influential story from Lazarus' own point of view. After he is awakened from death, Lazarus has difficulties regaining his previous identity and confidence. His experience of death has left him fragile and disoriented, and his newfound fame is a burden he does not want. Worse, his faith has been shattered because he remembers nothing of any afterlife. In compelling flashbacks, we learn of Lazarus' initial meeting with Jesus – during their boyhood in Nazareth – and discover how he came to earn his friend's trust and gratitude. After Jesus's arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Lazarus wonders if his purpose is to save his beloved friend from crucifixion. But will Jesus accept Lazarus' final sacrifice? In Zimler's impeccably researched and highly moving novel, Jesus is presented as a mystical healer within the context of ancient Jewish practice and tradition.