This
incident is found only in the Gospel of John. It is often seen as a precursor
to the Passion narrative.
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. Then said his
disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit
Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking
of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may
believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is
called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may
die with him.
Then when Jesus came, he found that he
had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto
Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came
to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then
Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him:
but Mary sat still in the house.
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou
hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now,
whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto
her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know
that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said
unto 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. Believest thou this? She saith unto
him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God,
which should come into the world. 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.
As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly,
and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in
that place where Martha met him. 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. 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. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the
Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was
troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord,
come and see. Jesus wept.
Then
said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 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? Jesus therefore again groaning
in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
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. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou
wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
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. 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. And when he thus had spoken, he
cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 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. (John
11 v 11 - 44)
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