Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed^(A) about those who sleep in death,^(B) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^{(C) 14} For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,^(D) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.^{(E) 15} According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,^(F) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(G) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(H) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(I) and with the trumpet call of God,^(J) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(K) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(L) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(M) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(N) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(O) with these words.

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

¹⁷ On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.^{(A) 18} Now Bethany^(B) was less than two miles^[a] from Jerusalem, ¹⁹ and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.^{(C) 20} When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.^(D)

²¹ “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.^{(E) 22} But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”^(F)

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

²⁴ Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection^(G) at the last day.”^(H)

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am^(I) the resurrection and the life.^(J) The one who believes^(K) in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives by believing^(L) in me will never die.^(M) Do you believe this?”

²⁷ “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah,^(N) the Son of God,^(O) who is to come into the world.”^(P)