What if the traditional assumptions are wrong?

I hope you find the following question intriguing rather than controversial:

Could it be that the real author of the Gospel of John – known only as the “Beloved Disciple” in the text – is not John, the son of Zebedee, as traditionally assumed – but instead Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, whom Jesus raised from the dead?

This possibility has been proposed by Dr. Ben Witherington III, a well-respected New Testament scholar and author who teaches at my alma mater, Asbury Theological Seminary.

It seems a strange theory at first, but if it is true, it answers so many questions!

• If he’s just a Galilean fisherman, how does the author of the Gospel gain entrance to the High Priest’s house on the night of Jesus’ arrest?
• If he’s one of the original 12, how is the author at the cross when the other 3 Gospels make clear the disciples all scattered?
• Why does the author take note of Jesus’ grave clothes at the tomb … and then believe? Is it because he remembers stumbling out of his own tomb wrapped in similar clothes?
• Why does a rumor get started that the author will not die? Is it because he’s already been dead once?

Dr. Witherington’s blog post is a fairly lengthy read, but well-worth the effort.