The Death of Lazarus

11 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of (A)Mary and her sister Martha. (B)It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, (C)He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to (D)stone You, and are You going there again?”

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? (E)If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the (F)light of this world. 10 But (G)if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus (H)sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”

12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”

16 Then (I)Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about [a]two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that (J)whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha said to Him, (K)“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am (L)the resurrection and the life. (M)He who believes in Me, though he may (N)die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, (O)I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Jesus and Death, the Last Enemy

28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but [b]was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 (P)Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, [c]saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she (Q)fell down at His feet, saying to Him, (R)“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?”

They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 (S)Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, (T)who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

Lazarus Raised from the Dead

38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a (U)stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would (V)see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone [d]from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but (W)because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with (X)graveclothes, and (Y)his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 11:18 Lit. 15 stadia
  2. John 11:30 NU was still
  3. John 11:31 NU supposing that she was going
  4. John 11:41 NU omits from the place where the dead man was lying

The Death and Resurrection of Lazarus

11 Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from [a]Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived. It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.(A) So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, he [our brother and Your friend] whom You love is sick.” When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death; but [on the contrary it is] for the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” Now Jesus loved and was concerned about Martha and her sister and Lazarus [and considered them dear friends]. [b]So [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed in the same place two more days. Then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), the Jews were only recently going to stone You, and You are [thinking of] going back there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours [of light] in the day? Anyone who walks in the daytime does not stumble, because he sees [by] the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him.” 11 He said this, and after that said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him.” 12 The disciples answered, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was referring to natural sleep. 14 So then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas, who was called Didymus (the twin), said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, that we may die with Him.”

17 So when Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb [c]four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away; 19 and many of the Jews had come to see Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning [the loss of] their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give to You.” 23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise [from the dead].” 24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise [from the dead] in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, [d]I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies; 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed and continue to believe that You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of God, [e]He who was [destined and promised] to come into the world [and it is for You that the world has waited].”

28 After she had said this, she left and called her sister Mary, privately whispering [to her], “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” 29 And when she heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.

30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him. 31 So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her, saw how quickly Mary got up and left, they followed her, assuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary came [to the place] where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who had come with her also sobbing, He was [f]deeply moved in spirit [to the point of anger at the sorrow caused by death] and was troubled, 34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him [as a close friend]!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the blind man’s eyes, have kept this man from dying?”

38 So Jesus, again deeply moved within [to the point of anger], approached the tomb. It was a cave, and a boulder was lying against it [to cover the entrance]. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an offensive odor, for he has been dead four days! [It is hopeless!]” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe [in Me], you will see the glory of God [the expression of His excellence]?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes [toward heaven] and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 I knew that You always hear Me and listen to Me; but I have said this because of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You have sent Me [and that You have made Me Your representative].” 43 When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 Out came the man who had been dead, his hands and feet tightly wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and release him.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 11:1 Two cities named Bethany are mentioned in the NT. This one is located on the east side of the Mount of Olives, about two miles from Jerusalem, on the road to Jericho; the other city is “Bethany across the Jordan” (1:28) in Perea.
  2. John 11:6 The delay by Jesus was to assure everyone that Lazarus was truly dead, as the context which follows makes clear.
  3. John 11:17 Jesus purposefully stayed away for four days after Lazarus’ death. The Jews believed the soul hovered around the body for three days during which there was still hope. After four days all hope was gone.
  4. John 11:25 The fifth of the memorable “I am” statements. See note 6:35.
  5. John 11:27 The Coming One was a Messianic title.
  6. John 11:33 In Greek this term suggests an emotional indignation or sternness. Jesus was angry at the sorrow caused by death. It occurs four more times in the NT in reference to Jesus’ words or His feelings. See Matt 9:30; Mark 1:43; John 11:38; 13:21.

11 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. 16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19 and many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. 30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. 31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 and said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

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11 1 Christ, to show that he is, 25 the life and the resurrection, 14 cometh to Lazarus being dead,  17, 34 and buried, 43 and raiseth him up. 47 As the Priests were consulting together, 49 Caiaphas 50 prophecieth that one must die for the people. 56, 57 They command to seek Christ out, and to take him.

And [a]a certain man was sick, named Lazarus of Bethany, the [b]town of Mary, and her sister Martha.

(And it was that (A)Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest, is sick.

When Jesus heard it, he said, This sickness is not unto [c]death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

¶ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.

[d]And after he had heard that he was sick, yet abode he two days still in the same place where he was.

Then after that, said he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again.

[e]The disciples said unto him, Master, the Jews lately sought to (B)stone thee, and dost thou go thither again?

Jesus answered, Are there not [f]twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

11 These things spake he, and after, he said unto them, Our friend Lazarus [g]sleepeth: but I go to wake him up.

12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall be safe.

13 Howbeit, Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of the natural sleep.

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

15 And I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there, that ye may believe: but let us go unto him.

16 Then said Thomas (which is called Didymus) unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

17 ¶ Then came Jesus, and found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

18 (Now Bethany was near unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off.)

19 [h]And many of the Jews were come to Martha and Mary to comfort them for their brother.

20 Then Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not been dead.

22 But now I know also, that whatsoever thou askest of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus said unto her, Thy brother shall [i]rise again.

24 Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again (C)in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: (D)he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live.

26 And whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die: Believest thou this?

27 She said unto him, Yea, Lord, I believe that thou art that Christ that Son of God, which should come into the world.

28 ¶ And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

29 And when she heard it, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

30 For Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met him.

31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily, and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave, to weep there.

32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not been dead.

33 [j]When Jesus therefore saw her weep, and the Jews also weep which came with her, he [k]groaned in the spirit, and was troubled in himself,

34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

35 And Jesus wept.

36 Then said the Jews, behold, how he loved him.

37 And some of them said, (E)Could not he which opened the eyes of the blind, have made also, that this man should not have died?

38 Jesus therefore again groaned in himself, and came to the grave. And it was a cave, and a stone was laid upon it.

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha the sister of him that was dead, said unto him, Lord, he stinketh already for he hath been dead four days.

40 Jesus said unto her, Said I not unto thee, that if thou didst believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee, because thou hast heard me.

42 I know that thou hearest me always, but because of the people that stand by, I said it, that they may believe, that thou hast sent me.

43 As he had spoken these things, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 Then he that was dead, came forth, bound hand and foot with bands, and his face was bound with a napkin. Jesus said unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

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Footnotes

  1. John 11:1 Christ in restoring the stinking carcass of his friend to life, showeth an example both of his mighty power, and also of his singular good will toward men: which is also an image of the resurrection to come.
  2. John 11:1 Where his sisters dwelt.
  3. John 11:4 That is to say, sent for the purpose to kill him.
  4. John 11:6 In that, that God seemeth sometimes to linger in helping of us, he doeth it both for his glory, and for our salvation, as the falling out of the matter in the end, plainly proveth.
  5. John 11:8 This only is the sure and right way to life, to follow God boldly without fear, who calleth us and shineth before us in the darkness of this world.
  6. John 11:9 All things are fitly wrought and brought to pass in their season.
  7. John 11:11 The Jews used a milder kind of speech, and called death a sleep, whereupon in other languages the place of burial where the dead are laid, waiting for the resurrection, is called a sleeping place.
  8. John 11:19 God who is the maker of nature, doth not condemn natural affections, but showeth that they ought to be examined by the rule of faith.
  9. John 11:23 That is, shall recover life again.
  10. John 11:33 Christ took upon him together with our flesh all affections of man (sin only excepted) and amongst them especially mercy and compassion.
  11. John 11:33 These are tokens that he was greatly moved, but yet they were without sin: and these affections are proper to man’s nature.

11 And there was a certain one ailing, Lazarus, from Bethany, of the village of Mary and Martha her sister --

and it was Mary who did anoint the Lord with ointment, and did wipe his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ailing --

therefore sent the sisters unto him, saying, `Sir, lo, he whom thou dost love is ailing;'

and Jesus having heard, said, `This ailment is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.'

And Jesus was loving Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus,

when, therefore, he heard that he is ailing, then indeed he remained in the place in which he was two days,

then after this, he saith to the disciples, `We may go to Judea again;'

the disciples say to him, `Rabbi, now were the Jews seeking to stone thee, and again thou dost go thither!'

Jesus answered, `Are there not twelve hours in the day? if any one may walk in the day, he doth not stumble, because the light of this world he doth see;

10 and if any one may walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him.'

11 These things he said, and after this he saith to them, `Lazarus our friend hath fallen asleep, but I go on that I may awake him;'

12 therefore said his disciples, `Sir, if he hath fallen asleep, he will be saved;'

13 but Jesus had spoken about his death, but they thought that about the repose of sleep he speaketh.

14 Then, therefore, Jesus said to them freely, `Lazarus hath died;

15 and I rejoice, for your sake, (that ye may believe,) that I was not there; but we may go to him;'

16 therefore said Thomas, who is called Didymus, to the fellow-disciples, `We may go -- we also, that we may die with him,'

17 Jesus, therefore, having come, found him having been four days already in the tomb.

18 And Bethany was nigh to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off,

19 and many of the Jews had come unto Martha and Mary, that they might comfort them concerning their brother;

20 Martha, therefore, when she heard that Jesus doth come, met him, and Mary kept sitting in the house.

21 Martha, therefore, said unto Jesus, `Sir, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died;

22 but even now, I have known that whatever thou mayest ask of God, God will give to thee;'

23 Jesus saith to her, `Thy brother shall rise again.'

24 Martha saith to him, `I have known that he will rise again, in the rising again in the last day;'

25 Jesus said to her, `I am the rising again, and the life; he who is believing in me, even if he may die, shall live;

26 and every one who is living and believing in me shall not die -- to the age;

27 believest thou this?' she saith to him, `Yes, sir, I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming to the world.'

28 And these things having said, she went away, and called Mary her sister privately, saying, `The Teacher is present, and doth call thee;'

29 she, when she heard, riseth up quickly, and doth come to him;

30 and Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was in the place where Martha met him;

31 the Jews, therefore, who were with her in the house, and were comforting her, having seen Mary that she rose up quickly and went forth, followed her, saying -- `She doth go away to the tomb, that she may weep there.'

32 Mary, therefore, when she came where Jesus was, having seen him, fell at his feet, saying to him, `Sir, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died;'

33 Jesus, therefore, when he saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, did groan in the spirit, and troubled himself, and he said,

34 `Where have ye laid him?' they say to him, `Sir, come and see;'

35 Jesus wept.

36 The Jews, therefore, said, `Lo, how he was loving him!'

37 and certain of them said, `Was not this one, who did open the eyes of the blind man, able to cause that also this one might not have died?'

38 Jesus, therefore, again groaning in himself, cometh to the tomb, and it was a cave, and a stone was lying upon it,

39 Jesus saith, `Take ye away the stone;' the sister of him who hath died -- Martha -- saith to him, `Sir, already he stinketh, for he is four days dead;'

40 Jesus saith to her, `Said I not to thee, that if thou mayest believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?'

41 They took away, therefore, the stone where the dead was laid, and Jesus lifted his eyes upwards, and said, `Father, I thank Thee, that Thou didst hear me;

42 and I knew that Thou always dost hear me, but, because of the multitude that is standing by, I said [it], that they may believe that Thou didst send me.'

43 And these things saying, with a loud voice he cried out, `Lazarus, come forth;'

44 and he who died came forth, being bound feet and hands with grave-clothes, and his visage with a napkin was bound about; Jesus saith to them, `Loose him, and suffer to go.'

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