Was Lazarus gay?

lenvdbTue 14/08/07 21:41

I found a piece of interesting stuff on the internet.

One of the Early Church Fathers, Bishop Clement of Alexandria, was found to have modified the Gospel of Mark. The portion of scripture removed was later known as Secret Mark. Clement wrote a letter to another church leader, in which he admits to making this modification. Now why would he tamper with this most sacred text? You may even ask : How does God allow it? Well, God does not control people. People have free will and we have freedom to do as we please. Should we choose to serve God it has to be a choice. And it proves that the Bible is not the literal Word of God. It is a human book full of flaws and errors. The portion of scripture Clement removed depicts a rich young man called Lazarus, being raised from the dead. But throughout this time he was scantily clad in a linnen cloth. And the actual description creates the image of a very gay young John Lazarus. He was ultimately the John who laid his head on the chest of Jesus at the last supper. He is referred to as the man whom Jesus loved on a few places. He also pops up later in the Gospel of John and again in Mark:

Joh 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?
Joh 21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what [shall] this man [do]?
Joh 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me.

Mar 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled.
Mar 14:51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about [his] naked [body]; and the young men laid hold on him:
Mar 14:52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

Here is the scripture from Secret Mark:
"And they come into Bethany. And a certain woman whose brother had died was there. And, coming, she prostrated herself before Jesus and says to him, 'Son of David, have mercy on me.' But the disciples rebuked her. And Jesus, being angered, went off with her into the garden where the tomb was, and straightway a great cry was heard from the tomb. And going near, Jesus rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb. And straightaway, going in where the youth was, he stretched forth his hand and raised him, seizing his hand. But the youth, looking upon him, loved him and began to beseech him that he might be with him. And going out of the tomb, they came into the house of the youth, for he was rich. And after six days Jesus told him what to do, and in the evening the youth comes to him, wearing a linen cloth over his naked body. And he remained with him that night, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the Kingdom of God. And thence, arising, he returned to the other side of the Jordan."

More details can be found here: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/secretmark.html

There are those who are very persistent that this was a hoax, but even that is debatable...

Is someone covering something up again?

I think there is some truth to the story. John 21:21 is also dodgy. When Peter asked Jesus what was to happen to John Lazarus Jesus pretty much told him it was none of his business.

Anyone else had any thoughts on this?

Len
www.godsfriends.co.uk