John 11:1-171Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4When 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. 5Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. 7Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again. 8His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? 9Jesus 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. 10But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 11These 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. 12Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. 16Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 17Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. (John 11:1‑17)
JESUS stayed with His disciples in a place by Himself. The wicked people who wanted to kill Him could not find Him, but Jesus’ friends knew where He was.
Jesus had other friends besides His disciples. One of His friends was called Lazarus. Lazarus had two sisters; their names were Martha and Mary. These three all lived together. They all loved Jesus, and Jesus loved them. Jesus used often to come to see them. He used to sit in their house and talk to them. Martha liked to make a fine dinner when Jesus came, but Mary liked to sit and listen to His sweet words.
One day Lazarus fell very sick. Martha and Mary loved their brother Lazarus very much indeed. They knew that Jesus could make Lazarus well; so they sent a man to tell Jesus that Lazarus was sick. The man went far away to look for Jesus.
Lazarus grew worse and worse. At last he died. His friends wrapped white cloths round his face and his arms and his legs. They put him in a big hole and rolled a stone up to it to close the hole.
Martha and Mary waited and longed for Jesus to come. Four days passed, and at last Jesus came. Martha and Mary did not think that Jesus would now make Lazarus alive again, because their brother had been dead for so long. So they sat on the ground and cried.
When Martha heard that Jesus was on the road a little way off, she came to Jesus and said. ‘If Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.’ She knew that even then God would do anything that Jesus asked Him.
Then Jesus said, ‘Your brother shall rise again.’
‘Yes,’ said Martha, ‘I know he will rise again at the last day, when all the dead people will rise.’ Martha was afraid that Jesus would not choose to make Lazarus alive soon, but she knew that He was able to do it.
Martha went back to the house and found Mary still sitting on the ground, and many friends around her. Martha whispered in her ear, and told her that Jesus wanted to speak to her. So Martha and Mary went together and found Jesus waiting for them on the road.
Mary’s friends went with her, and they cried, and Mary cried very much indeed. When she saw Jesus she fell down at His feet and said, ‘Lord, if Thou hadst been here my brother had not died.’
Jesus was very sorry to see her so unhappy and to see so many people crying. He felt very sad indeed, and He sighed very deeply. Jesus does not like to see any one in trouble; He is so kind.
Then Jesus said, ‘Where have you put Lazarus?’
Martha and Mary and their friends said, ‘Come and see.’ Then they showed Him the way to the grave. As Jesus walked along, the tears rolled down His cheeks.
At last they came to the grave. It was a hole, and a very large stone was in front of the hole. Then Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’
Martha thought that Jesus was going to look at Lazarus lying dead. So she said, ‘Do not go in; his flesh has a bad smell by this time. He has been dead for four days.’ But Jesus told her to believe that He could make Lazarus alive.
They then rolled away the stone. Jesus lifted up His eyes to His Father in heaven, and thanked Him for helping Him to do wonderful things.
Many people were standing by, looking at Jesus, and wondering what He would do. Poor Martha and Mary were longing to see Lazarus alive again. Then Jesus spoke loudly and said, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’
Lazarus heard, though he was dead; for the dead hear the voice of Jesus. Lazarus got up and walked to the opening of the hole. His hands were tied with cloths, and his feet wrapped round with cloths, and a cloth was over his face. But Jesus said, ‘Undo the cloths.’
How pleased Martha and Mary must have been to see his face again! How they must have thanked the Lord Jesus for His kindness!
The people who saw all this were surprised, and they said, ‘Jesus must be the Son of God.’
Questions
Had Lazarus any sisters?
What were their names?
Did Jesus ever come to their house?
When Lazarus was sick, was Jesus with him, or far away?
Was Lazarus dead before Jesus came?
Did Martha think that Jesus could make Lazarus alive again?
Why did Jesus sigh and weep?
Where was dead Lazarus put?
What did Jesus say to Lazarus?
What clothes did Lazarus wear in the grave?
What did the people think of Jesus when they saw Him make Lazarus alive again?
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