3. The raising of Lazarus from his grave after he had lain four days, related by John.
Even if these miracles were possible one fact disproves them: the silence of the other Evangelists. Of these three stories not one is confirmed by another Evangelist. His less important miracles, such as healing the sick, are, many of them, recorded in all of the gospels, or at least in all of the Synoptics; yet each of these, his greatest miracles, stands alone, unnoticed by the other writers. Mark and Luke mention the daughter of Jairus, but only to deny the miracle by declaring that she was not dead. Had these miracles really been performed, all of the Evangelists would have had a knowledge of them, and all would have recorded them. These writers do not complement each other, as claimed: they exclude each other. There are many Lives of Napoleon; but not one of his biographers has seen fit to omit his greatest victories because some other biographer has narrated them.
218
Who was it requested that James and John might sit, one on the right and the other on the left hand of Jesus in his kingdom?
Matthew: “She [their mother] said unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom” ([xx, 21]).
Mark: “They [James and John] said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy glory” ([x, 37]).
219
Who occupies a seat at the left hand of Jesus?