拉撒路病死

11 伯大尼村有個名叫拉撒路的人病倒了。伯大尼是瑪麗亞和她姐姐瑪大居住的村莊。 就是這個瑪麗亞後來用香膏抹主,又用自己的頭髮擦乾祂的腳,患病的拉撒路是她的弟弟。 她們姊妹兩個託人去告訴耶穌,說:「主啊,你所愛的人病了!」

耶穌聽見後,說:「這病不會致命,而是為了上帝的榮耀,使祂的兒子藉此得到榮耀。」 耶穌一向愛瑪大、瑪麗亞和拉撒路, 可是祂聽到拉撒路有病的消息後,仍逗留了兩天, 然後才對門徒說:「我們去猶太吧!」

門徒說:「老師,猶太人近來想拿石頭打你,你還要去那裡嗎?」

耶穌說:「白天不是有十二個小時嗎?人在白天走路,不會跌倒,因為他看得見這世上的光。 10 人在夜間走路,才會跌倒,因為沒有光。」 11 接著耶穌又說:「我們的朋友拉撒路已經睡了,我去叫醒他。」

12 門徒說:「主啊,如果他睡了,肯定會好的。」 13 其實耶穌是指他已經死了,門徒卻以為他真的睡了。

14 於是,耶穌清楚地對他們說:「拉撒路死了。 15 為了你們的緣故,我很高興自己不在那裡,好叫你們信我。現在我們可以去了。」 16 綽號「雙胞胎」的多馬對其他門徒說:「我們也去,好跟祂一塊兒死吧。」

拉撒路死而復活

17 耶穌到了伯大尼,得知拉撒路已經在墳墓裡四天了。 18 伯大尼離耶路撒冷不遠,大約只有三公里的路, 19 很多猶太人來看瑪大和瑪麗亞,為她們兄弟的事來安慰她們。

20 瑪大聽說耶穌來了,就去迎接祂,瑪麗亞卻仍然坐在家裡。 21 瑪大對耶穌說:「主啊,你如果早在這裡,我弟弟就不會死了。 22 就是現在我也知道你無論向上帝求什麼,上帝必定賜給你。」

23 耶穌說:「你弟弟必定復活。」

24 瑪大說:「我知道,在末日復活的時候,他必復活。」

25 耶穌說:「我是復活,我是生命。信我的人雖然死了,也必復活。 26 凡活著信我的人必永遠不死。你相信嗎?」

27 瑪大說:「主啊,我信!我相信你是來到世界的基督,是上帝的兒子。」

28 瑪大說完了,就回去悄悄地告訴她妹妹瑪麗亞:「老師來了,祂叫你去。」

29 瑪麗亞聽了,急忙起來到耶穌那裡。 30 那時,耶穌還沒有進村子,仍在瑪大迎接祂的地方。 31 那些在家裡安慰瑪麗亞的猶太人,見她匆匆忙忙地跑了出去,以為她要去墳墓那裡哭,就跟著出去。

32 瑪麗亞來到耶穌那裡,俯伏在祂腳前說:「主啊,你如果早在這裡,我弟弟就不會死了。」

33 耶穌看見她和陪她來的猶太人都在哭,心中感動,十分難過, 34 便問:「你們把他葬在哪裡了?」

他們答道:「主啊,你來看。」

35 耶穌哭了。

36 猶太人說:「你看!祂多麼愛拉撒路啊!」

37 其中也有人說:「祂既然能醫好瞎眼的人,難道不能叫這個人不死嗎?」

38 耶穌又十分感動地來到墳墓前。那墳墓是個洞,洞口堵著一塊大石頭。

39 耶穌說:「把石頭挪開。」

死者的姐姐瑪大對祂說:「主啊,他死了四天了,已經臭了。」

40 耶穌說:「我不是跟你說過,只要你信,就會看見上帝的榮耀嗎?」

41 於是,他們把石頭挪開,耶穌望著天說:「父啊,我感謝你,因為你已垂聽了我的禱告, 42 我知道你常常垂聽我的禱告。我這樣說是為了周圍站著的眾人,好叫他們相信是你差了我來。」

43 說完,就大聲呼喊:「拉撒路,出來!」 44 那死者就出來了,手腳都纏著布條,臉上也包著布。

耶穌對他們說:「給他解開,讓他走!」

謀害耶穌

45 許多來看瑪麗亞的猶太人看見耶穌所行的事,就信了祂, 46 但也有些人去見法利賽人,把耶穌所行的事告訴他們。 47 祭司長和法利賽人便召開公會會議,說:「這人行了這麼多神蹟,我們該怎麼辦呢? 48 如果讓祂這樣繼續下去,所有的人都會信祂,那時羅馬人一定會來奪取我們的土地,擄掠我們的人民。」

49 當年擔任大祭司的該亞法對他們說:「你們什麼都不懂! 50 你們沒有認識到,祂一個人替眾人死,而不是整個民族滅亡,對你們來說更好。」 51 其實這句話不是出於他自己,只因那年他是大祭司,上帝藉著他預言耶穌將要替猶太民族死。 52 祂不單是要替猶太民族死,也要把散居在各處的上帝的兒女聚集在一起。

53 從那天起,他們就計劃要殺害耶穌, 54 所以耶穌不再公開地在猶太人中間露面。祂離開伯大尼,前往靠近曠野的地方,到了以法蓮城,就和門徒住下來。

55 猶太人的逾越節快到了,有很多人從鄉下上耶路撒冷,預備在過節前潔淨自己。 56 他們四處尋找耶穌,又彼此在聖殿裡談論:「你們怎麼想?祂不會來過節吧?」 57 當時祭司長和法利賽人早已下令,如果有人知道耶穌在哪裡,就來報告,他們好去抓祂。

拉撒路之死

11 伯大尼来城,有个病人叫拉撒路,马利亚和她姐姐马大住在那里。 (马利亚是那位为主抹香膏,并用自己的头发为主擦脚的女子,她的兄弟拉撒路病了。) 两姐妹给耶稣捎信说∶“主,您亲爱的朋友拉撒路病了。”

耶稣听到此事后,说道∶“这病不致命,而是为了给上帝带来荣耀,以便让上帝之子通过它得到荣耀。” 耶稣很喜欢马大和她的兄妹, 然而,当他听说拉撒路病了,便在所在的地方多住了两天, 这之后,他对门徒说∶“咱们回犹太去吧。”

门徒对他说∶“拉比(老师),前不久犹太人还想用石头砸您呢,您还要去那里吗?”

耶稣回答∶“白天不是有十二个钟头吗?人白天走路,不会跌倒,因为他有世上的光, 10 但是,如果一个人在夜里走路,就会跌倒,因为他没有光。”

11 说完,他又告诉他们∶“我们的朋友拉撒路睡着了,我去叫醒他。”

12 门徒说∶“主,如果他在睡觉,那么他会好的。”

13 耶稣说的是拉撒路已死,可他们还以为他说的是自然睡眠呢。 14 所以,耶稣只好明白地告诉他们∶“拉撒路已经死了, 15 因为你们的缘故,我很高兴我不在那里,以便你们可以信仰我,现在,让咱们到他那里去吧。”

16 多马,(也叫低土马)对其他门徒说∶“咱们也去吧,这样,咱们可以与耶稣同死。”

耶稣在伯大尼

17 耶稣到来时,发现拉撒路已经下葬四天了。 18 伯大尼在耶路撒冷附近,只相距三公里左右, 19 许多犹太人为她们的兄弟之死,赶来安慰马大和马利亚。

20 马大听说耶稣来了,就去迎接他,马利亚留在家里, 21 马大对耶稣说∶“主,您若早点来,我的兄弟就不会死了。 22 可我知道,即便是现在,不论您向上帝请求什么,上帝都会给予您的。”

23 耶稣对她说∶“你兄弟会活过来的。”

24 马大对他说∶“我知道在这个时代的末日,复活之际,他会重获生命的。”

25 耶稣说∶“我就是复活,我就是生命,信仰我的人,死了也将会再生, 26 任何活着并信仰我的人都永远不会死,你相信这些吗?”

27 她说∶“我信,主,我相信您是基督,是那就要降临到这个世界的上帝之子。”

耶稣哭了

28 说完这话,她回去叫她妹妹马利亚,悄悄对她说∶“老师在这里,他叫你呢!”

29 马利亚听了,立即起身去见耶稣。 30 (耶稣还在遇见马大的地方,还没有进村呢)。 31 当时,和她在一起安慰她的犹太人,看见她起身匆匆离开,便跟在她身后,还以为她要去哭坟。 32 马利亚来到耶稣那里,一看到他,便扑倒在他面前,对他说∶“主,如果您早些来,我兄弟就不会死了。” 33 耶稣看到她和那些与她一起来的犹太人都痛哭着,便被深深地打动了,非常悲伤, 34 他问道∶“你们把他安葬在哪里了?”

他们告诉他∶“主,请您过来看。”

35 耶稣也禁不住地哭了。

36 犹太人开始说∶“看他多爱拉撒路呀!”

37 但是,另一些犹太人却说∶“这个能让盲人睁开眼睛的人,难道不能免救拉撒路于一死吗?”

耶稣使拉撒路复活

38 耶稣内心又一次深深地感动了,他来到墓地,坟墓是一个洞穴,用一块石头封住了洞口。 39 耶稣说∶“把石头移开。”

死者的姐姐马大说∶“主,现在墓里会有恶臭,因为已经四天了。”

40 耶稣对她说∶“我不是告诉过你了吗?只要你相信,就可以看到上帝的荣耀。”

41 于是人们把石头抬走了,耶稣抬头说道∶“父,感谢您,因为您已经听到了我, 42 我知道您总是垂听我,我这样说,是为了周围站着的这许多人,以便让他们相信是您派遣我来的。” 43 说完,耶稣高声喊道∶“拉撒路,出来吧。” 44 死人果然出来了,手脚上都裹着布,脸上还包着一块布。

耶稣对人群说∶“解开尸衣,让他走吧。”

犹太人首领谋划杀害耶稣

45 因此,许多来看马利亚的犹太人,看到耶稣所做的事情,都信仰了他, 46 但是,有些人却去见法利赛人,告诉他们耶稣的所作所为。祭司长和法利赛人召集了犹太议会, 47 他们说∶“我们该怎么办呢?这人行了这么多的奇迹! 48 如果我们任凭他这么下去,每个人都会信仰他了,那样罗马人就会来毁了我们的大殿和民族的。”

49 他们中一位叫该亚法的人,是当年的大祭司,他说∶“你们什么都不知道, 50 你们也没有意识到,对于你们来说,让一人为众人而死,要比整个民族被毁好得多。”

51 他不是代表自己在说这话,因为,做为当年的大祭司,他预见到耶稣会为犹太民族而死, 52 不仅是为了犹太民族,也是为了把四散的上帝的孩子聚拢起来,合为一体。

53 从那天起,他们就伺机要杀害耶稣。 54 耶稣不再在犹太人中公开露面了,他离开那里,到了旷野附近一个叫以法莲的城镇去了。他和门徒在那里住了下来。

55 犹太人的逾越节快到了,许多人都离家前往耶路撒冷,赶在节日前洁净自己。 56 他们到处寻找耶稣,他们站在大殿院里相互询问道∶“你怎么认为呢?他到底来不来过逾越节?” 57 但是,祭司长和法利赛人下令,凡是知道耶稣下落的人要立即报告,以便逮捕他。

The Death of Lazarus

11 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the woman who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was the one who was ill. So the sisters sent word to Jesus[a] and told him, “Lord, the one whom you love is ill.”

But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness isn’t meant to end in death. It’s for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet, when he heard that Lazarus[b] was ill, he stayed where he was for two more days.

After this, he told the disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

The disciples told him, “Rabbi,[c] the Jewish leaders[d] were just now trying to stone you to death, and you are going back there again?”

Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours in the day, aren’t there? If anyone walks during the day he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks at night he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These were the things he said.

Then after this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m leaving to wake him up.”

12 So the disciples told him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well.” 13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was speaking about resting or sleeping.

14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. 15 For your sake I’m glad that I wasn’t there, so that you may believe. But let’s go to him.”

16 Then Thomas, who was called the Twin,[e] told his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too, so that we may die with him!”

Jesus the Resurrection and the Life

17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus[f] had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia[g] away, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20 As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home.

21 Martha told Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, he[h] will give it to you.”

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

24 Martha told him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[i] The person who believes in me, even though he dies, will live. 26 Indeed, everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe that?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I believe that you are the Messiah,[j] the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world.”

28 When she had said this, she went away and called her sister Mary and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you!”

29 As soon as Mary[k] heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet arrived at the village but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with her, consoling her in the house, saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, thinking that she had gone to the tomb to cry there.

32 As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet and told him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was greatly troubled in spirit and deeply moved. 34 He asked, “Where have you put him?”

They told him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus burst into tears.

36 So the Jews said, “See how much he loved him!”

37 But some of them said, “Surely the one who opened the eyes of the blind man could have kept this man from dying, couldn’t he?”

Jesus Brings Lazarus Back to Life

38 Groaning deeply again, Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying in front of it. 39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.”

Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there must be a stench by now, because he’s been dead for four days.”

40 Jesus told her, “I told you that if you believed you would see God’s glory, didn’t I?” 41 So they removed the stone.

Then Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. 42 I know that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.”

43 After saying this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet tied with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a handkerchief. Jesus told them, “Untie him, and let him go.”

The Jewish Council Plans to Kill Jesus(A)

45 Many of the Jews who had come with Mary and who had observed what Jesus did believed in him. 46 Some of them, however, went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the high priests and the Pharisees assembled the Council[l] and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our Temple[m] and our nation.”

49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, told them, “You don’t know anything! 50 You don’t realize that it is better for you[n] to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” 51 Now he did not say this on his own initiative. As high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not only for the nation, but that he would also gather into one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they resolved to put him to death. 54 As a result, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews.[o] Instead, he went from there[p] to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness. There he remained with his disciples.

55 Now the Jewish Passover was approaching, and before the Passover many people from the countryside went up to Jerusalem to purify themselves. 56 They kept looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the Temple, “What do you think? Surely he won’t come to the festival, will he?” 57 Now the high priests and the Pharisees had given orders that whoever knew where he was should tell them so that they could arrest him.

Footnotes

  1. John 11:3 Lit. sent to him
  2. John 11:6 Lit. he
  3. John 11:8 Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher
  4. John 11:8 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
  5. John 11:16 Lit. Didymus
  6. John 11:17 Lit. he
  7. John 11:18 I.e. about two miles; the Roman mile contained eight stadia, one stadion was about 604.5 feet long.
  8. John 11:22 Lit. God
  9. John 11:25 Other mss. lack and the life
  10. John 11:27 Or Christ
  11. John 11:29 Lit. she
  12. John 11:47 Or Sanhedrin
  13. John 11:48 Lit. place
  14. John 11:50 Other mss. read for us
  15. John 11:54 I.e. Judean leaders
  16. John 11:54 I.e. from Bethany

The Death and Resurrection of Lazarus

11 Now a certain man was sick: Lazarus of (A)Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister (B)Martha. And it was the Mary who (C)anointed (D)the Lord with [a]ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “(E)Lord, behold, (F)he whom You love is sick.” But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not [b]meant for death, but is for (G)the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” (Now Jesus loved (H)Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.) So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Then after this He *said to the disciples, (I)Let’s go to Judea again.” The disciples *said to Him, “(J)Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking (K)to stone You, and yet You are going there again?” Jesus replied, (L)Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks during the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in [c]him.” 11 This He said, and after this He *said to them, “Our (M)friend Lazarus (N)has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may awaken him from sleep.” 12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will [d]come out of it.” 13 Now (O)Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about [e]actual sleep. 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus died, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let’s go to him.” 16 (P)Therefore Thomas, who was called [f](Q)Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s also go, so that we may die with Him!”

17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb (R)four days. 18 Now (S)Bethany was near Jerusalem, about [g]fifteen stadia away; 19 and many of (T)the Jews had come to (U)Martha and Mary, (V)to console them about their brother. 20 So then (W)Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but (X)Mary [h]stayed in the house. 21 Martha then said to Jesus, “(Y)Lord, (Z)if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 Even now I know that (AA)whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23 Jesus *said to her, “Your brother will rise from the dead.” 24 Martha *said to Him, “(AB)I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, (AC)I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me (AD)will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have come to believe that You are (AE)the [i]Christ, the Son of God, and [j](AF)He who comes into the world.”

28 When she had said this, she (AG)left and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “(AH)The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard this, she *got up quickly and came to Him.

30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but (AI)was still at the place where Martha met Him. 31 (AJ)Then the Jews who were with her in the house and were (AK)consoling her, when they saw that Mary had gotten up quickly and left, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 So when Mary came to the place where Jesus was, she saw Him and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “(AL)Lord, (AM)if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Therefore when Jesus saw her weeping, and (AN)the Jews who came with her also weeping, He (AO)was deeply moved in spirit and [k](AP)was troubled, 34 and He said, “Where have you laid him?” They *said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus (AQ)wept. 36 So (AR)the Jews were saying, “See how He (AS)loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could this Man, who (AT)opened the eyes of the man who was blind, not have also [l]kept this man from dying?”

38 So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, *came to the tomb. Now it was a (AU)cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus *said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, *said to Him, “Lord, by this time [m]there will be a stench, for he has been dead (AV)four days.” 40 Jesus *said to her, (AW)Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they removed the (AX)stone. And Jesus (AY)raised His eyes, and said, (AZ)Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, (BA)because of the [n]people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that (BB)You sent Me.” 43 And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 Out came the man who had died, (BC)bound hand and foot with wrappings, and (BD)his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus *said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

45 (BE)Therefore many of the Jews (BF)who came to Mary, and (BG)saw what He had done, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went to the (BH)Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.

Conspiracy to Kill Jesus

47 Therefore (BI)the chief priests and the Pharisees (BJ)convened a (BK)council meeting, and they were saying, “What are we [o]doing in regard to the fact that this Man is performing many [p](BL)signs? 48 If we let Him go on like this, all the people will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take over both our [q](BM)place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, (BN)Caiaphas, (BO)who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor are you taking into account that (BP)it is in your best interest that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish instead.” 51 Now he did not say this [r]on his own, but (BQ)as he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation; 52 and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also (BR)gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they (BS)planned together to kill Him.

54 Therefore Jesus (BT)no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the region near the wilderness, into a city called (BU)Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples.

55 Now (BV)the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country prior to the Passover, (BW)in order to [s]purify themselves. 56 So they (BX)were looking for Jesus, and saying to one another as they stood in the temple area, “What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now (BY)the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might arrest Him.

Footnotes

  1. John 11:2 Or perfume
  2. John 11:4 Lit toward death
  3. John 11:10 Or it; i.e., the world
  4. John 11:12 Lit be saved
  5. John 11:13 Lit the slumber of sleep
  6. John 11:16 I.e., the Twin
  7. John 11:18 Possibly 2 miles or 3 km; a Roman stadion perhaps averaged 607 ft. or 185 m
  8. John 11:20 Lit was sitting
  9. John 11:27 I.e., Messiah
  10. John 11:27 The Coming One was a Messianic title
  11. John 11:33 Lit troubled Himself
  12. John 11:37 Lit done so that this man also would not die
  13. John 11:39 Lit he stinks
  14. John 11:42 Lit crowd
  15. John 11:47 Or doing? For this
  16. John 11:47 I.e., confirming miracles
  17. John 11:48 Possibly meaning the temple
  18. John 11:51 Lit from himself
  19. John 11:55 I.e., undergo required cleansing rituals