John 11:1-16

New Testament for Everyone

The death of Lazarus

11 There was a man in Bethany named Lazarus, and he became ill. Bethany was the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ² (This was the Mary who anointed the Lord with myrrh, and wiped his feet with her hair. Lazarus, who was ill, was her brother.)

³ So the sisters sent messengers to Jesus.

“Master,” they said, “the man you love is ill.”

⁴ When Jesus got the message, he said, “This illness won’t lead to death. It’s all about the glory of God! The son of God will be glorified through it.”

⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. ⁶ So when he heard that he was ill, he stayed where he was for two days.

⁷ Then, after that, he said to the disciples, “Let’s go back to Judaea.”

⁸ “Teacher,” replied the disciples, “the Judaeans were trying to stone you just now! Surely you don’t want to go back there!”

⁹ “There are twelve hours in the day, aren’t there?” replied Jesus. “If you walk in the day, you won’t trip up, because you’ll see the light of this world. ¹⁰ But if anyone walks in the night, they will trip up, because there is no light in them.”

¹¹ When he had said this, Jesus added: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. But I’m going to wake him up.”

¹² “Master,” replied the disciples, “if he’s asleep, he’ll be all right.”

¹³ (They thought he was referring to ordinary sleep; but Jesus had in fact been speaking of his death.)

¹⁴ Then Jesus spoke to them plainly.

“Lazarus,” he said, “is dead. ¹⁵ Actually, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for your sakes; it will help your faith. But let’s go to him.”

¹⁶ Thomas, whose name was the Twin, addressed the other disciples.

“Let’s go too,” he said. “We may as well die with him.”