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Muerte de Lázaro

11 Había un hombre enfermo que se llamaba Lázaro, natural de Betania, el pueblo de María y de su hermana Marta. Esta María, que era hermana de Lázaro, fue la que derramó perfume sobre los pies del Señor y los secó con sus cabellos. Así pues, las dos hermanas mandaron a decir a Jesús:

—Señor, tu amigo querido está enfermo.

Jesús, al oírlo, dijo:

—Esta enfermedad no va a terminar en muerte, sino que ha de servir para mostrar la gloria de Dios, y también la gloria del Hijo de Dios.

Aunque Jesús quería mucho a Marta, a su hermana y a Lázaro, cuando le dijeron que Lázaro estaba enfermo se quedó dos días más en el lugar donde se encontraba. Después dijo a sus discípulos:

—Vamos otra vez a Judea.

Los discípulos le dijeron:

—Maestro, hace poco los judíos de esa región trataron de matarte a pedradas, ¿y otra vez quieres ir allá?

Jesús les dijo:

—¿No es cierto que el día tiene doce horas? Pues si uno anda de día, no tropieza, porque ve la luz que hay en este mundo; 10 pero si uno anda de noche, tropieza, porque le falta la luz.

11 Después añadió:

—Nuestro amigo Lázaro se ha dormido, pero voy a despertarlo.

12 Los discípulos le dijeron:

—Señor, si se ha dormido, es señal de que va a sanar.

13 Pero lo que Jesús les decía es que Lázaro había muerto, mientras que los discípulos pensaban que se había referido al sueño natural. 14 Entonces Jesús les dijo claramente:

—Lázaro ha muerto. 15 Y me alegro de no haber estado allí, porque así es mejor para ustedes, para que crean. Pero vamos a verlo.

16 Entonces Tomás, al que llamaban el Gemelo, dijo a los otros discípulos:

—Vamos también nosotros, para morir con él.

Jesús, la resurrección y la vida

17 Al llegar, Jesús se encontró con que ya hacía cuatro días que Lázaro había sido sepultado. 18 Betania se hallaba cerca de Jerusalén, a unos tres kilómetros; 19 y muchos de los judíos habían ido a visitar a Marta y a María, para consolarlas por la muerte de su hermano. 20 Cuando Marta supo que Jesús estaba llegando, salió a recibirlo; pero María se quedó en la casa. 21 Marta le dijo a Jesús:

—Señor, si hubieras estado aquí, mi hermano no habría muerto. 22 Pero yo sé que aun ahora Dios te dará todo lo que le pidas.

23 Jesús le contestó:

—Tu hermano volverá a vivir.

24 Marta le dijo:

—Sí, ya sé que volverá a vivir cuando los muertos resuciten, en el día último.

25 Jesús le dijo entonces:

—Yo soy la resurrección y la vida. El que cree en mí, aunque muera, vivirá; 26 y todo el que todavía está vivo y cree en mí, no morirá jamás. ¿Crees esto?

27 Ella le dijo:

—Sí, Señor, yo creo que tú eres el Mesías, el Hijo de Dios, el que tenía que venir al mundo.

Jesús llora junto al sepulcro de Lázaro

28 Después de decir esto, Marta fue a llamar a su hermana María, y le dijo en secreto:

—El Maestro está aquí y te llama.

29 Tan pronto como lo oyó, María se levantó y fue a ver a Jesús. 30 Jesús no había entrado todavía en el pueblo; estaba en el lugar donde Marta se había encontrado con él. 31 Al ver que María se levantaba y salía rápidamente, los judíos que estaban con ella en la casa, consolándola, la siguieron pensando que iba al sepulcro a llorar.

32 Cuando María llegó a donde estaba Jesús, se puso de rodillas a sus pies, diciendo:

—Señor, si hubieras estado aquí, mi hermano no habría muerto.

33 Jesús, al ver llorar a María y a los judíos que habían llegado con ella, se conmovió profundamente y se estremeció, 34 y les preguntó:

—¿Dónde lo sepultaron?

Le dijeron:

—Ven a verlo, Señor.

35 Y Jesús lloró. 36 Los judíos dijeron entonces:

—¡Miren cuánto lo quería!

37 Pero algunos de ellos decían:

—Éste, que dio la vista al ciego, ¿no podría haber hecho algo para que Lázaro no muriera?

Resurrección de Lázaro

38 Jesús, otra vez muy conmovido, se acercó a la tumba. Era una cueva, cuya entrada estaba tapada con una piedra. 39 Jesús dijo:

—Quiten la piedra.

Marta, la hermana del muerto, le dijo:

—Señor, ya huele mal, porque hace cuatro días que murió.

40 Jesús le contestó:

—¿No te dije que, si crees, verás la gloria de Dios?

41 Quitaron la piedra, y Jesús, mirando al cielo, dijo:

—Padre, te doy gracias porque me has escuchado. 42 Yo sé que siempre me escuchas, pero lo digo por el bien de esta gente que está aquí, para que crean que tú me has enviado.

43 Después de decir esto, gritó:

—¡Lázaro, sal de ahí!

44 Y el que había estado muerto salió, con las manos y los pies atados con vendas y la cara envuelta en un lienzo. Jesús les dijo:

—Desátenlo y déjenlo ir.

Conspiración para arrestar a Jesús(A)

45 Por esto creyeron en Jesús muchos de los judíos que habían ido a acompañar a María y que vieron lo que él había hecho. 46 Pero algunos fueron a ver a los fariseos, y les contaron lo que había hecho Jesús. 47 Entonces los fariseos y los jefes de los sacerdotes reunieron a la Junta Suprema, y dijeron:

—¿Qué haremos? Este hombre está haciendo muchas señales milagrosas. 48 Si lo dejamos, todos van a creer en él, y las autoridades romanas vendrán y destruirán nuestro templo y nuestra nación.

49 Pero uno de ellos, llamado Caifás, que era el sumo sacerdote aquel año, les dijo:

—Ustedes no saben nada, 50 ni se dan cuenta de que es mejor para ustedes que muera un solo hombre por el pueblo, y no que toda la nación sea destruida.

51 Pero Caifás no dijo esto por su propia cuenta, sino que, como era sumo sacerdote aquel año, dijo proféticamente que Jesús iba a morir por la nación judía; 52 y no solamente por esta nación, sino también para reunir a todos los hijos de Dios que estaban dispersos. 53 Así que desde aquel día las autoridades judías tomaron la decisión de matar a Jesús.

54 Por eso Jesús ya no andaba públicamente entre los judíos, sino que salió de la región de Judea y se fue a un lugar cerca del desierto, a un pueblo llamado Efraín. Allí se quedó con sus discípulos.

55 Faltaba poco para la fiesta de la Pascua de los judíos, y mucha gente de los pueblos se dirigía a Jerusalén a celebrar los ritos de purificación antes de la Pascua. 56 Andaban buscando a Jesús, y se preguntaban unos a otros en el templo:

—¿Qué les parece? ¿Vendrá a la fiesta o no?

57 Los fariseos y los jefes de los sacerdotes habían dado orden de que, si alguien sabía dónde estaba Jesús, lo dijera, para poder arrestarlo.

The Death of Lazarus

11 There was a man named Lazarus who was sick. He lived in the town of Bethany, where Mary and her sister Martha lived. Mary is the woman who later put perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. Mary’s brother was Lazarus, the man who was now sick. So Mary and Martha 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. This has happened to bring glory to the Son of God.” Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. But when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days. Then Jesus said to his followers, “Let us go back to Judea.”

The followers said, “But Teacher, the Jews there tried to kill you with stones. That was only a short time ago. Now you want to go back there?”

Jesus answered, “Are there not 12 hours in the day? If anyone walks in the daylight, he will not stumble because he can see by this world’s light. 10 But if anyone walks at night he stumbles because there is no light to help him see.”

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

12 The followers said, “But Lord, if he can sleep, he will get well.”

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

16 Then Thomas (the one called Didymus) said to the other followers, “Let us go, too. We will die with him.”

Jesus in Bethany

17 Jesus arrived in Bethany. There he learned that Lazarus had already been dead and in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was about two miles from Jerusalem. 19 Many Jews had come there to comfort Martha and Mary about their brother.

20 Martha heard that Jesus was coming, and she went out to meet him. But Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you anything you ask.”

23 Jesus said, “Your brother will rise and live again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know that he will rise and live again in the resurrection[a] on the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will have life even if he dies. 26 And he who lives and believes in me will never die. Martha, do you believe this?”

27 Martha answered, “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God. You are the One who was coming to the world.”

Jesus Cries

28 After Martha said this, she went back to her sister Mary. She talked to Mary alone. Martha said, “The Teacher is here and he is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Jesus. 30 Jesus had not yet come into the town. He was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 The Jews were with Mary in the house, comforting her. They saw Mary stand and leave quickly. They followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to cry there. 32 But Mary went to the place where Jesus was. When she saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 Jesus saw that Mary was crying and that the Jews who came with her were crying, too. Jesus felt very sad in his heart and was deeply troubled. 34 He asked, “Where did you bury him?”

“Come and see, Lord,” they said.

35 Jesus cried.

36 So the Jews said, “See how much he loved him.”

37 But some of them said, “If Jesus healed the eyes of the blind man, why didn’t he keep Lazarus from dying?”

Jesus Raises Lazarus

38 Again Jesus felt very sad in his heart. He came to the tomb. The tomb was a cave with a large stone covering the entrance. 39 Jesus said, “Move the stone away.”

Martha said, “But, Lord, it has been four days since he died. There will be a bad smell.” Martha was the sister of the dead man.

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

41 So they moved the stone away from the entrance. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. 42 I know that you always hear me. But I said these things because of the people here around me. I want them to believe that you sent me.” 43 After Jesus said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out. His hands and feet were wrapped with pieces of cloth, and he had a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take the cloth off of him and let him go.”

The Leaders Plan to Kill Jesus

45 There were many Jews who had come to visit Mary. They saw what Jesus did. And 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 leading priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Jewish council. They asked, “What should we do? This man is doing many miracles. 48 If we let him continue doing these things, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will come and take away our Temple and our nation.”

49 One of the men there was Caiaphas. He was the high priest that year. Caiaphas said, “You people know nothing! 50 It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed. But you don’t realize this.”

51 Caiaphas did not think of this himself. He was high priest that year. So he was really prophesying that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation 52 and for God’s scattered children. This would bring them all together and make them one.

53 That day they started planning to kill Jesus. 54 So Jesus no longer traveled openly among the Jews. He left there and went to a place near the desert. He went to a town called Ephraim and stayed there with his followers.

55 It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast. Many from the country went up to Jerusalem before the Passover. They went to do the special things to make themselves pure. 56 The people looked for Jesus. They stood in the Temple and were asking each other, “Is he coming to the Feast? What do you think?” 57 But the leading priests and the Pharisees had given orders about Jesus. They said that if anyone knew where Jesus was, he must tell them. Then they could arrest Jesus.

Footnotes

  1. 11:24 resurrection Being raised from death to live again.

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 man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany,(A) the village of Mary and her sister Martha.(B) (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)(C) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love(D) is sick.”

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory(E) so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”(F)

“But Rabbi,”(G) they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you,(H) and yet you are going back?”

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light.(I) 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend(J) Lazarus has fallen asleep;(K) but I am going there to wake him up.”

12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.(L)

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

16 Then Thomas(M) (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

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

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

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

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

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

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah,(AA) the Son of God,(AB) who is to come into the world.”(AC)

28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher(AD) is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.(AE) 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her,(AF) noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”(AG)

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved(AH) in spirit and troubled.(AI) 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept.(AJ)

36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”(AK)

37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man(AL) have kept this man from dying?”(AM)

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved,(AN) came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.(AO) 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”(AP)

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe,(AQ) you will see the glory of God?”(AR)

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up(AS) and said, “Father,(AT) I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here,(AU) that they may believe that you sent me.”(AV)

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”(AW) 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen,(AX) and a cloth around his face.(AY)

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary,(AZ) and had seen what Jesus did,(BA) believed in him.(BB) 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees(BC) called a meeting(BD) of the Sanhedrin.(BE)

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.(BF) 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas,(BG) who was high priest that year,(BH) spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”(BI)

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.(BJ) 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.(BK)

54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea.(BL) Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover,(BM) many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing(BN) before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus,(BO) and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

Footnotes

  1. John 11:16 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.
  2. John 11:18 Or about 3 kilometers