拉撒路病死

11 伯大尼村有个名叫拉撒路的人病倒了。伯大尼是玛丽亚和她姐姐玛大居住的村庄。 就是这个玛丽亚后来用香膏抹主,又用自己的头发擦干祂的脚,患病的拉撒路是她的弟弟。 她们姊妹两个托人去告诉耶稣,说:“主啊,你所爱的人病了!”

耶稣听见后,说:“这病不会致命,而是为了上帝的荣耀,使祂的儿子借此得到荣耀。” 耶稣一向爱玛大、玛丽亚和拉撒路, 可是祂听到拉撒路有病的消息后,仍逗留了两天, 然后才对门徒说:“我们去犹太吧!”

门徒说:“老师,犹太人近来想拿石头打你,你还要去那里吗?”

耶稣说:“白天不是有十二个小时吗?人在白天走路,不会跌倒,因为他看得见这世上的光。 10 人在夜间走路,才会跌倒,因为没有光。” 11 接着耶稣又说:“我们的朋友拉撒路已经睡了,我去叫醒他。”

12 门徒说:“主啊,如果他睡了,肯定会好的。” 13 其实耶稣是指他已经死了,门徒却以为他真的睡了。

14 于是,耶稣清楚地对他们说:“拉撒路死了。 15 为了你们的缘故,我很高兴自己不在那里,好叫你们信我。现在我们可以去了。” 16 绰号“双胞胎”的多马对其他门徒说:“我们也去,好跟祂一块儿死吧。”

拉撒路死而复活

17 耶稣到了伯大尼,得知拉撒路已经在坟墓里四天了。 18 伯大尼离耶路撒冷不远,大约只有三公里的路, 19 很多犹太人来看玛大和玛丽亚,为她们兄弟的事来安慰她们。

20 玛大听说耶稣来了,就去迎接祂,玛丽亚却仍然坐在家里。 21 玛大对耶稣说:“主啊,你如果早在这里,我弟弟就不会死了。 22 就是现在我也知道你无论向上帝求什么,上帝必定赐给你。”

23 耶稣说:“你弟弟必定复活。”

24 玛大说:“我知道,在末日复活的时候,他必复活。”

25 耶稣说:“我是复活,我是生命。信我的人虽然死了,也必复活。 26 凡活着信我的人必永远不死。你相信吗?”

27 玛大说:“主啊,我信!我相信你是来到世界的基督,是上帝的儿子。”

28 玛大说完了,就回去悄悄地告诉她妹妹玛丽亚:“老师来了,祂叫你去。”

29 玛丽亚听了,急忙起来到耶稣那里。 30 那时,耶稣还没有进村子,仍在玛大迎接祂的地方。 31 那些在家里安慰玛丽亚的犹太人,见她匆匆忙忙地跑了出去,以为她要去坟墓那里哭,就跟着出去。

32 玛丽亚来到耶稣那里,俯伏在祂脚前说:“主啊,你如果早在这里,我弟弟就不会死了。”

33 耶稣看见她和陪她来的犹太人都在哭,心中感动,十分难过, 34 便问:“你们把他葬在哪里了?”

他们答道:“主啊,你来看。”

35 耶稣哭了。

36 犹太人说:“你看!祂多么爱拉撒路啊!”

37 其中也有人说:“祂既然能医好瞎眼的人,难道不能叫这个人不死吗?”

38 耶稣又十分感动地来到坟墓前。那坟墓是个洞,洞口堵着一块大石头。

39 耶稣说:“把石头挪开。”

死者的姐姐玛大对祂说:“主啊,他死了四天了,已经臭了。”

40 耶稣说:“我不是跟你说过,只要你信,就会看见上帝的荣耀吗?”

41 于是,他们把石头挪开,耶稣望着天说:“父啊,我感谢你,因为你已垂听了我的祷告, 42 我知道你常常垂听我的祷告。我这样说是为了周围站着的众人,好叫他们相信是你差了我来。”

43 说完,就大声呼喊:“拉撒路,出来!” 44 那死者就出来了,手脚都缠着布条,脸上也包着布。

耶稣对他们说:“给他解开,让他走!”

谋害耶稣

45 许多来看玛丽亚的犹太人看见耶稣所行的事,就信了祂, 46 但也有些人去见法利赛人,把耶稣所行的事告诉他们。 47 祭司长和法利赛人便召开公会会议,说:“这人行了这么多神迹,我们该怎么办呢? 48 如果让祂这样继续下去,所有的人都会信祂,那时罗马人一定会来夺取我们的土地,掳掠我们的人民。”

49 当年担任大祭司的该亚法对他们说:“你们什么都不懂! 50 你们没有认识到,祂一个人替众人死,而不是整个民族灭亡,对你们来说更好。” 51 其实这句话不是出于他自己,只因那年他是大祭司,上帝借着他预言耶稣将要替犹太民族死。 52 祂不单是要替犹太民族死,也要把散居在各处的上帝的儿女聚集在一起。

53 从那天起,他们就计划要杀害耶稣, 54 所以耶稣不再公开地在犹太人中间露面。祂离开伯大尼,前往靠近旷野的地方,到了以法莲城,就和门徒住下来。

55 犹太人的逾越节快到了,有很多人从乡下上耶路撒冷,预备在过节前洁净自己。 56 他们四处寻找耶稣,又彼此在圣殿里谈论:“你们怎么想?祂不会来过节吧?” 57 当时祭司长和法利赛人早已下令,如果有人知道耶稣在哪里,就来报告,他们好去抓祂。

Lazarus dies

11 There was a certain man, who was called Lazarus. He lived at Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived too. He became ill. It was this Mary who had poured oil with a nice smell over the feet of the Lord Jesus. Then she had cleaned his feet with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus to say, ‘Lord, the friend that you love is ill.’

Jesus heard the message. Then he said, ‘This illness will not finish with Lazarus's death. No, its purpose is to show how great God is. Because of this, people will see how great God's Son is.’ Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and their brother Lazarus, too. He heard the news that Lazarus was ill. But then he stayed in the place where he was for two more days.

After that, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘We should return to Judea.’ The disciples said, ‘Teacher, only a short time ago, the Jews there tried to kill you with stones. You should not return there!’ Jesus answered, ‘You know that there are 12 hours in the day. Anyone who walks during the day will not fall down. He will not fall down because he sees this world's light. 10 But anyone who walks during the night will fall down. He will fall down because he has no light.’

11 After Jesus said that, he said to them, ‘Our friend Lazarus is sleeping. But I will go there to wake him up.’ 12 So the disciples said to him, ‘If he is sleeping, Lord, he will get well again.’ 13 The disciples thought that Jesus was talking about sleep as rest. But Jesus meant that Lazarus had died. 14 So then, Jesus told them clearly, ‘Lazarus is dead. 15 But I am happy that I was not there with him. I am happy about that because it will help you. Now you will believe in me. We must go to him now.’ 16 Thomas, who was called Didymus, said to the other disciples, ‘We should go with our Teacher, so that we can die with him!’[a]

Jesus is able to give life to dead people

17 Jesus arrived at Bethany. He discovered that Lazarus had already been in the grave for four days. 18 Bethany was about 3 kilometres from Jerusalem. 19 Many Jews had come there to visit Martha and Mary. They wanted to help Martha and Mary because their brother had died.

20 Martha heard the news that Jesus was coming. So she went out to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house with the visitors. 21 Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now, I know that God will answer you. He will do whatever you ask him.’ 23 Jesus told her, ‘Your brother will rise and become alive again.’ 24 Martha replied, ‘I know that he will rise on the last day, to become alive again.’ 25 Jesus said to her, ‘I have authority over death. I raise dead people, and I give people true life. Anyone who believes in me will live. Even if that person dies, he will continue to live. 26 People who believe in me while they are alive will never die. Do you believe that?’ 27 Martha answered, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah. You are God's Son, the one that God promised to send into the world.’

28 After this, Martha went back to the house. She took Mary to speak to her on her own. Martha said to her, ‘The Teacher is here, and he is asking to meet you.’ 29 When Mary heard this, she got up immediately. She went out to meet Jesus. 30 Jesus had not arrived in the village yet. He was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 There were still Jews in the house who were with Mary to help her. They saw her get up quickly and go out. So they followed her. They thought that she was going to the place where they had put Lazarus's dead body. They thought that she wanted to go there to weep.

32 Mary arrived at the place where Jesus was. When she saw Jesus, she bent down low at his feet. She said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ 33 Jesus saw that Mary was weeping. He saw that the Jews who had come with her were weeping too. When Jesus saw them, he felt very sad in his spirit. He was upset about Lazarus's death. 34 He asked them, ‘Where have you put his dead body?’ They answered, ‘Come and see, Lord.’ 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said to each other, ‘See how much he loved Lazarus!’ 37 But some of them said, ‘He opened the eyes of the blind man. So surely he would have been able to stop the death of Lazarus.’

Jesus makes Lazarus alive again

38 Jesus arrived at the grave where they had put Lazarus's dead body. It was a cave. A large stone covered the front of the hole. Again, Jesus felt very upset. 39 He said, ‘Take the stone away.’ Martha, the dead man's sister, said to Jesus, ‘But Lord, by now his dead body will have a bad smell. He has been dead for four days!’ 40 Jesus said to her, ‘I told you already that you must believe in me. Then you will see how great and how powerful God is.’ 41 So they moved the stone away. Jesus looked up towards the sky. He said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have listened to me. 42 I know that you listen to me always. But I said this to help all the people who are standing here. I want them to believe that you sent me.’ 43 When Jesus had said this, he shouted with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ 44 The dead man came out. There were pieces of cloth round his hands and round his feet. Another piece of cloth was round his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Undo the cloths and let him go.’

The Pharisees decide how to kill Jesus

45 The Jews who had come to visit Mary saw this. They saw what Jesus did. So many of them believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees. They told the Pharisees what Jesus had done. 47 Then the Pharisees and the leaders of the priests had a meeting with the group of Jewish leaders. They asked each other, ‘What will we do? This man is doing so many miracles. 48 If we let him do more things like this, everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman rulers will come and punish us.[b] Their soldiers will destroy our temple and even destroy our whole country of Israel.’

49 One of the group was the leader of the priests that year. He was called Caiaphas. He said, ‘You do not understand the problem. 50 It is better that one man should die on behalf of our people. That is better than if all Israel's people should die.’ 51 Caiaphas did not say this because he had thought it by himself. No, he was speaking as a prophet, because he was the leader of the priests that year. That is why he said that Jesus would die on behalf of Israel's people. 52 And Jesus would die not only for Israel's people. He would also die for all God's people who lived in many different places. He would bring them all together. They would become like one big family.

53 From that day, the Jewish leaders decided together how they could kill Jesus. 54 So Jesus stopped travelling about in Judea where everyone could see him. Instead, he went away from there to a town called Ephraim that was near to the wilderness. He stayed there with his disciples.

55 It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Festival to begin. Many people were going from their country places to Jerusalem. They were going there to make themselves clean in front of God before they went to the festival. 56 They were continuing to look for Jesus. While they stood in the yard of the temple, they spoke to each other about him. They asked each other, ‘Do you think that he will come to the festival or not?’ 57 The leaders of the priests and the Pharisees had spoken to the people about Jesus. They had told them, ‘If anyone knows where Jesus is, you must tell us.’ So then they could take hold of him to put him in a prison.

Footnotes

  1. 11:16 Didymus means ‘the twin’.
  2. 11:48 The Romans were ruling Israel at that time.

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 Judaea 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.

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?

57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

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.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus(Z)

45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, (AA)and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and (AB)told them the things Jesus did. 47 (AC)Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, (AD)“What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

49 And one of them, (AE)Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 (AF)nor do you consider that it is expedient for [e]us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and (AG)not for that nation only, but (AH)also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to (AI)put Him to death. 54 (AJ)Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called (AK)Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.

55 (AL)And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to (AM)purify themselves. 56 (AN)Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might (AO)seize Him.

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
  5. John 11:50 NU you

Lazarus Dies at Bethany

11 Now a man was sick, Lazarus, from Bethany,(A) the village of Mary and her sister Martha.(B) Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair,(C) and it was her brother Lazarus who was sick. So the sisters sent a message to Him: “Lord, the one You love is sick.”

When Jesus heard it, He said, “This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God,(D) so that the Son of God(E) may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after that, He said to the disciples, “Let’s go to Judea(F) again.”

“Rabbi,”(G) the disciples told Him, “just now the Jews tried to stone You,(H) and You’re going there again?”

“Aren’t there 12 hours in a day?” Jesus answered. “If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world.(I) 10 If anyone walks during the night,(J) he does stumble, because the light is not in him.” 11 He said this, and then He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep,(K) but I’m on My way to wake him up.”

12 Then the disciples said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well.”

13 Jesus, however, was speaking about his death, but they thought He was speaking about natural sleep. 14 So Jesus then told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. 15 I’m glad for you that I wasn’t there so that you may believe. But let’s go to him.”

16 Then Thomas(L) (called “Twin”) said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go so that we may die with Him.”

The Resurrection and the Life

17 When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb(M) four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem(N) (about two miles[a] away). 19 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. 20 As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary remained seated in the house.

21 Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.”

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

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

25 Jesus said to her, “I am(Q) the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me,(R) even if he dies, will live.(S) 26 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever.(T) Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told Him, “I believe You are the Messiah,(U) the Son(V) of God, who comes into the world.”(W)

Jesus Shares the Sorrow of Death

28 Having said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”

29 As soon as she heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.(X) 30 Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met Him. 31 The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. So they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb(Y) to cry there.

32 When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet(Z) and told Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!”

33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry[b] in His spirit(AA) and deeply moved. 34 “Where have you put him?” He asked.

“Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.”

35 Jesus wept.(AB)

36 So the Jews said, “See how He loved(AC) him!” 37 But some of them said, “Couldn’t He who opened the blind man’s eyes(AD) also have kept this man from dying?”

The Seventh Sign: Raising Lazarus from the Dead

38 Then Jesus, angry[c] in Himself again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.(AE) 39 “Remove the stone,” Jesus said.

Martha, the dead man’s sister, told Him, “Lord, he’s already decaying.[d] It’s been four days.”

40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory(AF) of God?”(AG)

41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes and said, “Father, I thank(AH) You that You heard Me.(AI) 42 I know that You always hear Me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so they may believe You sent(AJ) Me.” 43 After He said this, He shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him and let him go.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

45 Therefore, many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what He did believed in Him.(AK) 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees(AL) and told them what Jesus had done.

47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin(AM) and said, “What are we going to do since this man does many signs? 48 If we let Him continue in this way, everyone will believe in Him! Then the Romans(AN) will come and remove both our place[e] and our nation.”

49 One of them, Caiaphas,(AO) who was high priest(AP) that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! 50 You’re not considering that it is to your[f] advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.”(AQ) 51 He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was going to die(AR) for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children(AS) of God. 53 So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.(AT) 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly(AU) among the Jews but departed from there to the countryside near the wilderness,(AV) to a town called Ephraim. And He stayed there with the disciples.

55 The Jewish Passover(AW) was near, and many went up to Jerusalem(AX) from the country to purify[g] themselves before the Passover. 56 They were looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple complex:(AY) “What do you think? He won’t come to the festival,(AZ) will He?” 57 The chief priests(BA) and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it so they could arrest Him.

Footnotes

  1. John 11:18 Lit 15 stadia; 1 stadion = 600 feet
  2. John 11:33 The Gk word is very strong and probably indicates Jesus’ anger against sin’s tyranny and death.
  3. John 11:38 See note at 11:33.
  4. John 11:39 Lit he already stinks
  5. John 11:48 The temple or possibly all of Jerusalem
  6. John 11:50 Other mss read to our
  7. John 11:55 The law of Moses required God’s people to purify or cleanse themselves so they could celebrate the Passover. Jews often came to Jerusalem a week early to do this; Nm 9:4-11.