John 11:1-341Now 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. 18Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. 28And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. 29As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. 30Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. 31The 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. 32Then 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. 33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. (John 11:1‑34)
There were two sisters, Martha and Mary, and their brother, Lazarus, living in a town named Bethany, who knew the Lord Jesus and had welcomed Him in their home. They believed Him the Holy One promised by God.
While He was at a place beyond the Jordan River, some distance from them, Lazarus became very sick. The sisters knew Jesus could cure him and sent a messenger to tell Him of the sickness.
But Jesus did not go to them at once, nor speak the command for Lazarus to be well, as He had for some. He stayed two days longer in that place, Then He said to the disciples, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.”
They did not know Lazarus was dead, and thought Jesus meant natural sleep and said that was well for him. So Jesus told them, “Lazarus is dead,” and said, “Let us go to him.”
The disciples feared for Jesus to go near Jerusalem, for they had seen the men there try to stone Him. But when they saw His plan was to go, one of them said, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” They loved Jesus so much they felt they wanted to share death with Him, and all returned with. Him and came near to Bethany four days after Lazarus had died.
When Martha learned that Jesus was near, she went to meet Him, and said to Him, “Lord, if Thou hadst been here my brother had not died.”
Jesus told her, “Thy brother shall rise again.”
Jesus then said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.”
Martha believed the words of the Lord, though she had not yet seen His power over death, and she said to Him, “I believe Thou art the Christ , the Sone of God, which should come into the world.”
Martha returned to the house to tell Mary that Jesus had come, and she spoke to Mary secretly, “The Master is come and calleth for thee.”
Mary at once went to Jesus. When the friends saw her go from the house they thought she was going to Lazarus’ grave to weep, and they followed after her to comfort her, so came also where Jesus was.
Mary said the same words to Jesus as Martha, “Lord if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” They were so certain He could have made Lazarus well, if there. But they were soon to know what a great thing He still could do for them.
Jesus asked them where they had laid Lazarus, and they said, “Lord, come and see.”
ML 11/03/1946