John 11:1–16

The Death of Lazarus

11A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in the town of Bethany, where Mary and her sister Martha lived. ²Mary was the woman who later put perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. Mary’s brother was Lazarus, the man who was now sick. ³So Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

⁴When Jesus heard this, he said, “This sickness will not end in death. It is for the glory of God, to bring glory to the Son of God.” ⁵Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶But when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days. ⁷Then Jesus said to his followers, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

⁸The followers said, “But Teacher, some people there tried to stone you to death only a short time ago. Now you want to go back there?”

⁹Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the daylight, he will not stumble, because he can see by this world’s light. ¹⁰But if anyone walks at night, he stumbles because there is no light to help him see.”

¹¹After Jesus said this, he added, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him.”

¹²The followers said, “But Lord, if he is only asleep, he will be all right.”

¹³Jesus meant that Lazarus was dead, but his followers thought he meant Lazarus was really sleeping. ¹⁴So then Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵And I am glad for your sakes I was not there so that you may believe. But let’s go to him now.”

¹⁶Then Thomas (the one called Didymus) said to the other followers, “Let us also go so that we can die with him.”