⁴⁰ The Testimony of John the Baptist.^[a] He went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and he remained there. ⁴¹ Many people came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” ⁴² And many there came to believe in him.

³ And so the sisters sent this message to him, “Lord, the one you love is ill.”

⁴ When Jesus heard this, he said,

⁵ Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So after learning that Lazarus was ill, he remained for two more days in the place where he was. ⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “Let us return to Judea.” ⁸ His disciples said to him, “Rabbi, just a short time ago the Jews were trying to stone you. Why do you want to go back there?” ⁹ Jesus answered,

¹¹ After saying this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” ¹² The disciples responded, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” ¹³ Jesus, however, had been speaking about the death of Lazarus, but they thought that he was speaking of ordinary sleep.

¹⁴ Finally, Jesus told them in plain words, “Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵ I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. Let us go to him.” ¹⁶ Then Thomas (who was called “the Twin”^[a]) said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go so that we may die with him.”