John 11:1–25

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.”

Jesus in Bethany

¹⁷When Jesus arrived, he learned that Lazarus had already been dead and in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸Bethany was about two miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁹Many of the Jews had come there to comfort Martha and Mary about their brother.

²⁰When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed home. ²¹Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But I know that even now God will give you anything you ask.”

²³Jesus said, “Your brother will rise and live again.”

²⁴Martha answered, “I know that he will rise and live again in the resurrection ⁿ on the last day.”

²⁵Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die.