John 11:1-29

New Life Version

Jesus Hears about Lazarus

11 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in the town of Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. ² This was the Mary who put perfume on the Lord and dried His feet with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was sick. ³ The sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, “Lord, your friend is sick!” ⁴ When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death. It has happened so that it will bring honor to God. And the Son of God will be honored by it also.”

Jesus Tells of the Death of Lazarus

⁵ Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ But when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days. ⁷ Then He said to His followers, “Let us go into the country of Judea again.” ⁸ The followers said to Him, “Teacher, the Jews tried to throw stones at You to kill You not long ago. Are You going there again?” ⁹ Jesus said, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks during the day, he will not fall. He sees the light of this world. ¹⁰ If a man walks during the night, he will fall. The light is not in him.”

¹¹ After Jesus had said this, He spoke again and said, “Our friend Lazarus is sleeping. I will go and wake him up.” ¹² The followers said to Him, “If he is sleeping, he will get well.” ¹³ But Jesus meant Lazarus was dead. They thought He meant Lazarus was resting in sleep. ¹⁴ Then Jesus said to them, “Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵ Because of you I am glad I was not there so that you may believe. Come, let us go to him.”

¹⁶ Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to the other followers, “Let us go also so we may die with Jesus.”

Jesus Tells That the Grave Will Not Hold the Dead

¹⁷ When Jesus got there, He heard that Lazarus had been in the grave four days. ¹⁸ Bethany was about one-half hour walk from Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to give words of comfort about their brother.

²⁰ Martha heard that Jesus was coming and went to meet Him. Mary stayed in the house. ²¹ Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² I know even now God will give You whatever You ask.” ²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” ²⁴ Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again when the dead are raised from the grave on the last day.”

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the One Who raises the dead and gives them life. Anyone who puts his trust in Me will live again, even if he dies. ²⁶ Anyone who lives and has put his trust in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” ²⁷ She answered, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God. You are the One Who was to come into the world.”

Lazarus Is Raised from the Dead

²⁸ After Martha said this, she went and called her sister Mary. She said without anyone else hearing, “The Teacher is here and has sent for you.” ²⁹ When Mary heard this, she got up and went to Him.