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The Death of Lazarus

11 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in the town of Bethany, where Mary and her sister Martha lived [C near Jerusalem to the east, not the same Bethany as in 1:28]. Mary was the woman who ·later put perfume on the Lord [L anointed the Lord with perfume/ointment/fragrant oil] and wiped his feet with her hair [12:1–8]. Mary’s brother was Lazarus, the man who was now sick. So ·Mary and Martha [L the sisters] sent someone to tell Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

When Jesus heard this, he said, “This sickness will not end in death. It is for the glory of God, to bring glory to the Son of God.” Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ·But [or So] when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days. Then Jesus said to his ·followers [disciples], “Let’s go back to Judea.”

The ·followers [disciples] said to him, “But Teacher [L Rabbi], ·some people [the Jewish leaders; L the Jews] there tried to stone you to death only a short time ago. Now you want to go back there?”

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours ·in the day [of daylight]? If anyone walks in the daylight, he will not stumble, because he can see by ·this world’s light [C the sun]. 10 But if anyone walks at night, he stumbles because ·there is no light to help him see [L the light is not in him].”

11 After Jesus said this, he added, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him.”

12 The ·followers [disciples] said, “But Lord, if he is only asleep, he will ·be all right [recover; get better; L be saved/healed].”

13 [L But] Jesus meant that Lazarus was dead, but his followers thought he meant Lazarus was really sleeping. 14 So then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I ·am glad [rejoice] for your sakes I was not there so that you may believe. But let’s go to him now.”

16 Then Thomas (the one called Didymus [C meaning, “the Twin”]) said to ·the other followers [his fellow disciples], “Let us also go so that we can die with him.”

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The Death and Resurrection of Lazarus

11 Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from [a]Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived. It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.(A) So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, he [our brother and Your friend] whom You love is sick.” When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death; but [on the contrary it is] for the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” Now Jesus loved and was concerned about Martha and her sister and Lazarus [and considered them dear friends]. [b]So [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed in the same place two more days. Then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), the Jews were only recently going to stone You, and You are [thinking of] going back there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours [of light] in the day? Anyone who walks in the daytime does not stumble, because he sees [by] the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him.” 11 He said this, and after that said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him.” 12 The disciples answered, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was referring to natural sleep. 14 So then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas, who was called Didymus (the twin), said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, that we may die with Him.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 11:1 Two cities named Bethany are mentioned in the NT. This one is located on the east side of the Mount of Olives, about two miles from Jerusalem, on the road to Jericho; the other city is “Bethany across the Jordan” (1:28) in Perea.
  2. John 11:6 The delay by Jesus was to assure everyone that Lazarus was truly dead, as the context which follows makes clear.