Rev. Jeanne M. Hansknecht Says That Jesus Demonstrated That Lazarus Was Gay
The famous biblical account of Lazarus who was resurrected by Jesus Christ has become the subject of an unusual interpretation by Rev. Jeanne M. Hansknecht, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brighton, Michigan.
According to her now viral statement, Hansknecht connected Jesus’ command for Lazarus to “come out” with a suggestion about Lazarus’ sexuality. Her interpretation therefore pointed to the fact that Scripture does not record Lazarus having a wife, children or family.
The statement by Hansknecht gives a reference to Lazarus as a close friend of Jesus, followed by the phrase “friend of Dorothy,” a historical expression that has been far associated with gay men.
The comments have drawn massive attention, most especially in the Christian community because the Gospel of John does not identify or record that Lazarus was or is a gay. The passage in John 11 simply describes Lazarus as the brother of Martha and Mary and as someone Jesus loved. Jesus later calls Lazarus from the tomb after he has died.
According to the record, Hansknecht has served in Episcopal ministry for years and is listed as rector of St. Paul’s, Brighton, in Episcopal Diocese of Michigan records.
While the reported interpretation has generated discussion, it is important to know that, it is an individual’s interpretation and different from what the biblical text explicitly states. Scripture itself does not provide information about Lazarus’ sexual orientation.
