Lazarus, Come Out!

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” — John 11:25

Do you remember Mary and Martha, and their brother Lazarus, who lived in Bethany? Jesus loved them very much.

One day Lazarus became very ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus: “Lord, the one You love is sick.”

Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus. But when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed where He was for two more days. Then He said to His disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea. Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.” Jesus meant that Lazarus had died.

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in his tomb for four days. Many people had come to comfort Martha and Mary.

Martha went out to meet Jesus. “Lord,” she said, “if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give You whatever You ask.”

“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.

“I know he will rise again on the last day,” said Martha.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” said Martha. “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

Then Mary came out, and fell at Jesus’ feet, crying. “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her crying, and all the people with her crying, He was deeply troubled. “Where have you laid him?” He asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they said.

And Jesus wept.

Jesus knew He was about to bring Lazarus back to life. But He still cried with His friends. He was so sad that His friend had died, and that His friends were hurting.

“See how much He loved him!” people said.

They came to the tomb. It was a cave, with a big stone rolled across the entrance.

“Take away the stone,” said Jesus.

“But Lord,” said Martha, “he’s been dead for four days! It will smell terrible!”

“Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you would see the glory of God?” said Jesus.

So they rolled the stone away. Jesus looked up and prayed, “Father, thank You that You have heard Me.” Then He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

And Lazarus came out! His hands and feet were still wrapped in strips of linen, and there was a cloth around his face.

“Unwrap him,” said Jesus, “and let him go.”

Many of the people who saw this believed in Jesus. But some went and told the religious leaders, and from that day on, the leaders began to plan how to kill Jesus.

The one who gave life to Lazarus was about to give up His own life. But that is the story of the next book.

Read it in your Bible: John 11:1–45

Dear Jesus, thank you that you cry with us when we are sad. Thank you that you are the resurrection and the life, and that everyone who believes in you will live for ever. Amen.