Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Paper 168, "The Resurrection of Lazarus," is one of the most dramatic and controversial sections of the Urantia Book's account of Jesus' life.
The basic story follows the Gospel of John but adds a great deal of detail.
The Setup:
Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany, becomes seriously ill. A message is sent to Jesus, but according to the Urantia account, Jesus intentionally delays going to Bethany because he knows a unique event is about to occur.
By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead and entombed for four days.
The Miracle:
The Urantia Book presents this as Jesus' greatest public miracle and says it was performed under extraordinary circumstances. Jesus goes to the tomb, prays, and calls Lazarus forth. Lazarus emerges alive from the tomb, still wrapped in grave clothes.
The book gives a metaphysical explanation: Lazarus' soul had survived, his indwelling spiritual presence had been waiting, and Jesus exercised authority to restore his life. Lazarus himself remembers nothing of the interval between death and resurrection; to him, it was like an instant of unconscious sleep.
One detail many readers remember is that Lazarus is bewildered and has to be told by Martha that he died on Sunday and was brought back on Thursday.
Why It Matters:
According to the Urantia narrative, this miracle changed everything.
Thousands hear about it.
Many people become convinced Jesus is the Messiah.
The religious authorities become alarmed.
The Sanhedrin concludes that Jesus must be stopped.
In other words, the resurrection of Lazarus is portrayed as the immediate catalyst that pushes the leadership toward the final decision to arrest and execute Jesus.
The Spiritual Lesson:
The paper emphasizes that Jesus is demonstrating the truth of his statement:
"I am the resurrection and the life."
The point is not merely that Lazarus comes back to mortal life, but that personality survives death and that eternal life is available to all who trust God.
What Became of Lazarus?
One of the interesting Urantia additions is that Lazarus did not become a major preacher afterward. The authors say he lived quietly for years, although people constantly sought him out because they wanted to talk to a man who had been dead and returned. Eventually, persecution became so intense that he left Judea.
For many Urantia readers, Paper 168 serves as a bridge between Jesus' public ministry and the final week in Jerusalem. It is the last great sign before the Passion begins, and it sets the stage for Papers 172–188, which cover the final days leading to the crucifixion.
the most interesting aspect isn't the miracle itself but the Urantia explanation of what Lazarus experienced during death: absolutely nothing. No tunnel, no heaven, no visions—just a complete break in consciousness followed by awakening. That fits the Urantia Book's broader teaching that personality survives, but ordinary mortals generally do not consciously experience the interval between death and resurrection.
Paper 168, "The Resurrection of Lazarus," is one of the most dramatic and controversial sections of the Urantia Book's account of Jesus' life.
The basic story follows the Gospel of John but adds a great deal of detail.
The Setup:
Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany, becomes seriously ill. A message is sent to Jesus, but according to the Urantia account, Jesus intentionally delays going to Bethany because he knows a unique event is about to occur.
By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead and entombed for four days.
The Miracle:
The Urantia Book presents this as Jesus' greatest public miracle and says it was performed under extraordinary circumstances. Jesus goes to the tomb, prays, and calls Lazarus forth. Lazarus emerges alive from the tomb, still wrapped in grave clothes.
The book gives a metaphysical explanation: Lazarus' soul had survived, his indwelling spiritual presence had been waiting, and Jesus exercised authority to restore his life. Lazarus himself remembers nothing of the interval between death and resurrection; to him, it was like an instant of unconscious sleep.
One detail many readers remember is that Lazarus is bewildered and has to be told by Martha that he died on Sunday and was brought back on Thursday.
Why It Matters:
According to the Urantia narrative, this miracle changed everything.
Thousands hear about it.
Many people become convinced Jesus is the Messiah.
The religious authorities become alarmed.
The Sanhedrin concludes that Jesus must be stopped.
In other words, the resurrection of Lazarus is portrayed as the immediate catalyst that pushes the leadership toward the final decision to arrest and execute Jesus.
The Spiritual Lesson:
The paper emphasizes that Jesus is demonstrating the truth of his statement:
"I am the resurrection and the life."
The point is not merely that Lazarus comes back to mortal life, but that personality survives death and that eternal life is available to all who trust God.
What Became of Lazarus?
One of the interesting Urantia additions is that Lazarus did not become a major preacher afterward. The authors say he lived quietly for years, although people constantly sought him out because they wanted to talk to a man who had been dead and returned. Eventually, persecution became so intense that he left Judea.
For many Urantia readers, Paper 168 serves as a bridge between Jesus' public ministry and the final week in Jerusalem. It is the last great sign before the Passion begins, and it sets the stage for Papers 172–188, which cover the final days leading to the crucifixion.
the most interesting aspect isn't the miracle itself but the Urantia explanation of what Lazarus experienced during death: absolutely nothing. No tunnel, no heaven, no visions—just a complete break in consciousness followed by awakening. That fits the Urantia Book's broader teaching that personality survives, but ordinary mortals generally do not consciously experience the interval between death and resurrection.
