1Es lag aber einer krank, Lazarus aus Betanien, dem Dorf Marias und ihrer Schwester Marta. (Lk 10,38)2Maria aber war es, die den Herrn mit Salböl gesalbt und seine Füße mit ihrem Haar getrocknet hatte. Deren Bruder Lazarus war krank. (Joh 12,3)3Da sandten die Schwestern zu Jesus und ließen ihm sagen: Herr, siehe, der, den du lieb hast, liegt krank.4Als Jesus das hörte, sprach er: Diese Krankheit ist nicht zum Tode, sondern zur Verherrlichung Gottes, dass der Sohn Gottes dadurch verherrlicht werde. (Joh 9,3)5Jesus aber hatte Marta lieb und ihre Schwester und Lazarus.6Als er nun hörte, dass er krank war, blieb er noch zwei Tage an dem Ort, wo er war.7Danach spricht er zu den Jüngern: Lasst uns wieder nach Judäa ziehen!8Die Jünger aber sprachen zu ihm: Rabbi, eben noch wollten die Juden dich steinigen, und du willst wieder dorthin ziehen? (Joh 10,31)9Jesus antwortete: Hat nicht der Tag zwölf Stunden? Wer bei Tage umhergeht, der stößt sich nicht; denn er sieht das Licht dieser Welt. (Joh 9,4)10Wer aber bei Nacht umhergeht, der stößt sich; denn es ist kein Licht in ihm. (Joh 12,35)11Das sagte er, und danach spricht er zu ihnen: Lazarus, unser Freund, schläft, aber ich gehe hin, dass ich ihn aufwecke. (Mt 9,24)12Da sprachen die Jünger zu ihm: Herr, wenn er schläft, wird’s besser mit ihm.13Jesus aber sprach von seinem Tode; sie meinten aber, er rede von der Ruhe des Schlafs.14Da sagte ihnen Jesus frei heraus: Lazarus ist gestorben;15und ich bin froh um euretwillen, dass ich nicht da gewesen bin, auf dass ihr glaubt. Aber lasst uns zu ihm gehen!16Da sprach Thomas, der Zwilling genannt wird, zu den andern Jüngern: Lasst uns mit ihm gehen, dass wir mit ihm sterben! (Joh 20,24)17Da kam Jesus und fand Lazarus schon vier Tage im Grabe liegen.18Betanien aber war nahe bei Jerusalem, etwa fünfzehn Stadien entfernt.19Viele Juden aber waren zu Marta und Maria gekommen, sie zu trösten wegen ihres Bruders.20Als Marta nun hörte, dass Jesus kommt, ging sie ihm entgegen; Maria aber blieb im Haus sitzen.21Da sprach Marta zu Jesus: Herr, wärst du hier gewesen, mein Bruder wäre nicht gestorben.22Aber auch jetzt weiß ich: Was du bittest von Gott, das wird dir Gott geben.23Jesus spricht zu ihr: Dein Bruder wird auferstehen.24Marta spricht zu ihm: Ich weiß, dass er auferstehen wird bei der Auferstehung am Jüngsten Tage. (Mt 22,23; Joh 5,28; Joh 6,40)25Jesus spricht zu ihr: Ich bin die Auferstehung und das Leben. Wer an mich glaubt, der wird leben, ob er gleich stürbe;26und wer da lebt und glaubt an mich, der wird nimmermehr sterben. Glaubst du das? (Joh 8,51)27Sie spricht zu ihm: Ja, Herr, ich glaube, dass du der Christus bist, der Sohn Gottes, der in die Welt kommt. (Mt 16,16)28Und als sie das gesagt hatte, ging sie hin und rief ihre Schwester Maria und sprach heimlich zu ihr: Der Meister ist da und ruft dich.29Als Maria das hörte, stand sie eilends auf und kam zu ihm.30Jesus aber war noch nicht in das Dorf gekommen, sondern war noch dort, wo ihm Marta begegnet war.31Als die Juden, die bei ihr im Hause waren und sie trösteten, sahen, dass Maria eilends aufstand und hinausging, folgten sie ihr, weil sie dachten: Sie geht zum Grab, um dort zu weinen.32Als nun Maria dahin kam, wo Jesus war, und sah ihn, fiel sie ihm zu Füßen und sprach zu ihm: Herr, wärst du hier gewesen, mein Bruder wäre nicht gestorben.33Als Jesus sah, wie sie weinte und wie auch die Juden weinten, die mit ihr kamen, ergrimmte er im Geist und erbebte (Joh 13,21)34und sprach: Wo habt ihr ihn hingelegt? Sie sprachen zu ihm: Herr, komm und sieh!35Und Jesus gingen die Augen über.36Da sprachen die Juden: Siehe, wie hat er ihn so lieb gehabt!37Einige aber unter ihnen sprachen: Er hat dem Blinden die Augen aufgetan; konnte er nicht auch machen, dass dieser nicht sterben musste? (Joh 9,7)38Da ergrimmte Jesus abermals und kommt zum Grab. Es war aber eine Höhle, und ein Stein lag davor. (Mt 27,60)39Jesus spricht: Hebt den Stein weg! Spricht zu ihm Marta, die Schwester des Verstorbenen: Herr, er stinkt schon; denn er liegt seit vier Tagen.40Jesus spricht zu ihr: Habe ich dir nicht gesagt: Wenn du glaubst, wirst du die Herrlichkeit Gottes sehen?41Da hoben sie den Stein weg. Jesus aber hob seine Augen auf und sprach: Vater, ich danke dir, dass du mich erhört hast.42Ich wusste, dass du mich allezeit hörst; aber um des Volkes willen, das umhersteht, sagte ich’s, damit sie glauben, dass du mich gesandt hast. (Joh 12,30)43Als er das gesagt hatte, rief er mit lauter Stimme: Lazarus, komm heraus!44Und der Verstorbene kam heraus, gebunden mit Grabtüchern an Füßen und Händen, und sein Gesicht war verhüllt mit einem Schweißtuch. Jesus spricht zu ihnen: Löst die Binden und lasst ihn gehen!45Viele nun von den Juden, die zu Maria gekommen waren und sahen, was Jesus tat, glaubten an ihn.
Der Entschluss zur Tötung Jesu
46Einige aber von ihnen gingen hin zu den Pharisäern und sagten ihnen, was Jesus getan hatte.47Da versammelten die Hohenpriester und die Pharisäer einen Rat und sprachen: Was tun wir? Dieser Mensch tut viele Zeichen. (Mt 26,3)48Lassen wir ihn gewähren, dann werden sie alle an ihn glauben, und dann kommen die Römer und nehmen uns Tempel und Volk. (Joh 4,20)49Einer aber von ihnen, Kaiphas, der in diesem Jahr Hoherpriester war, sprach zu ihnen: Ihr wisst nichts;50ihr bedenkt auch nicht: Es ist besser für euch, ein Mensch sterbe für das Volk, als dass das ganze Volk verderbe. (Joh 18,14)51Das sagte er aber nicht von sich aus, sondern weil er in diesem Jahr Hoherpriester war, weissagte er. Denn Jesus sollte sterben für das Volk52und nicht für das Volk allein, sondern auch, um die verstreuten Kinder Gottes zusammenzubringen. (Joh 7,35; Joh 10,16; 1Joh 2,2)53Von dem Tage an war es für sie beschlossen, dass sie ihn töteten.54Da ging Jesus nicht mehr frei umher unter den Juden, sondern ging von dort weg in eine Gegend nahe der Wüste, in eine Stadt mit Namen Ephraim, und blieb dort mit den Jüngern. (2Sam 13,23; 1Mak 11,34)55Es war aber nahe das Passafest der Juden; und viele aus der Gegend gingen hinauf nach Jerusalem vor dem Fest, dass sie sich reinigten. (2Chr 30,17)56Da suchten sie Jesus und redeten miteinander, als sie im Tempel standen: Was meint ihr? Er wird doch nicht zum Fest kommen?57Die Hohenpriester und Pharisäer aber hatten geboten, wenn jemand wüsste, wo er wäre, sollte er’s anzeigen, damit sie ihn ergreifen könnten.
Johannes 11
King James Version
1Now 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 Judaea 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.35Jesus wept.36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!37And 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?38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.39Jesus 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.40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?41Then 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.42And 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.43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.44And 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.45Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.46But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.47Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.48If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.49And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.53Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.54Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.55And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.56Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?57Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.
1Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (Lk 10,38)2It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. (Joh 12,3)3So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” (Joh 11,5; Joh 11,11; Joh 11,36)4But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (Mt 9,24; Joh 9,3; Joh 11,11; Joh 11,40; Joh 13,31)5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (Joh 11,3)6So, when he heard that Lazarus[1] was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. (Joh 2,4; Joh 7,6; Joh 7,8)7Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” (Joh 10,40)8The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” (Joh 1,38; Joh 8,59; Joh 10,31)9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. (Lk 13,33; Joh 9,4; 1Joh 2,10)10But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” (Jer 13,16)11After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” (Mt 27,52)12The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”13Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.14Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,15and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”16So Thomas, called the Twin,[2] said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (Mt 10,3; Mk 3,18; Lk 6,15; Joh 13,37; Joh 14,5; Joh 20,24; Joh 20,26; Joh 21,2; Apg 1,13)
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
17Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. (Joh 11,39)18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles[3] off,19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. (Hi 2,11; Joh 11,31)20So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. (Lk 10,38)21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (Joh 11,32; Joh 11,37)22But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (Joh 9,31; Joh 11,42)23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”24Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” (Lk 14,14; Joh 5,29; Joh 6,39; Joh 11,39)25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[4] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, (Joh 1,4; Joh 3,36; Joh 5,21; Joh 6,40; Joh 6,44; Joh 6,57; Joh 12,25; Joh 14,6; 1Kor 15,21; Kol 3,4)26and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Joh 6,50; Joh 8,51)27She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (Mt 11,3; Mt 16,16; Joh 6,14; Joh 6,69; Joh 8,24; Joh 13,19; Joh 20,31; 1Joh 4,16; 1Joh 5,1; 1Joh 5,5)
Jesus Weeps
28When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” (Mt 26,18; Mk 14,14; Lk 22,11; Joh 13,13)29And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.30Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.31When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. (Joh 11,19)32Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (Joh 11,21)33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved[5] in his spirit and greatly troubled. (Mk 14,5; Joh 11,38; Joh 12,27; Joh 13,21)34And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”35Jesus wept. (Lk 19,41)36So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” (Joh 11,3)37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” (Joh 9,6; Joh 11,21; Joh 11,32)
Jesus Raises Lazarus
38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. (Jes 22,16; Mt 27,60; Mk 15,46; Lk 24,2; Joh 11,33; Joh 20,1)39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” (Joh 11,17)40Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (Joh 11,4; Joh 11,25; Röm 6,4)41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. (Joh 17,1)42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” (Mt 26,53; Joh 3,17; Joh 11,22; Joh 12,29; Joh 17,8; Joh 17,21)43When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”44The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (Joh 5,28; Joh 19,40; Joh 20,7)
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, (Joh 2,23; Joh 11,19; Joh 12,11; Apg 9,42)46but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.47So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. (Mt 5,22; Mt 26,3; Joh 12,19; Apg 4,16)48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” (Joh 6,15; Joh 18,36; Apg 21,28)49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. (Mt 26,3; Joh 11,51; Joh 18,13)50Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” (Joh 18,14)51He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, (2Mo 28,30; 4Mo 27,21; 1Sam 23,9; 1Sam 30,7; Esr 2,63; Neh 7,65; Joh 11,49)52and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. (Jes 49,6; Joh 10,16; 1Joh 2,2)53So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. (Joh 7,1)54Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. (Joh 7,1; Joh 7,4)55Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. (2Chr 30,17; Lk 2,42; Joh 6,4; Joh 18,28; Apg 21,24)56They were looking for[6] Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” (Joh 7,11)57Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
1Now a man named Lazarus was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.2(This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay ill, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is ill.’4When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This illness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.6So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was two more days,7and then he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea.’8‘But Rabbi,’ they said, ‘a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?’9Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the day-time will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light.10It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.’11After he had said this, he went on to tell them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’12His disciples replied, ‘Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.’13Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.14So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead,15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’16Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[1]) said to the rest of the disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’
Jesus comforts the sisters of Lazarus
17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.18Now Bethany was less than two miles[2] from Jerusalem,19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.21‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died.22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’23Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’24Martha answered, ‘I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’25Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;26and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’27‘Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.’28After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. ‘The Teacher is here,’ she said, ‘and is asking for you.’29When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.30Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.31When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.32When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.34‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied.35Jesus wept.36Then the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’37But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.39‘Take away the stone,’ he said. ‘But, Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.’40Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth round his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’
The plot to kill Jesus
45Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many signs.48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.’49Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, ‘You know nothing at all!50You do not realise that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.’51He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,52and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.53So from that day on they plotted to take his life.54Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.55When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover.56They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, ‘What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?’57But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.
1A man named Lazarus was ill. He was from Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived.2Mary would later pour perfume on the Lord. She would also wipe Jesus’ feet with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was ill in bed.3So the sisters sent a message to Jesus. ‘Lord’, they told him, ‘the one you love is ill.’4When Jesus heard this, he said, ‘This illness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory. God’s Son will receive glory because of it.’5Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.6So after he heard Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was for two more days.7And then he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea.’8‘But Rabbi’, they said, ‘a short time ago the Jews there tried to kill you with stones. Are you still going back?’9Jesus answered, ‘Aren’t there 12 hours of daylight? Anyone who walks during the day won’t trip and fall. They can see because of this world’s light.10But when they walk at night, they’ll trip and fall. They have no light.’11After he said this, Jesus went on speaking to them. ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep,’ he said. ‘But I am going there to wake him up.’12His disciples replied, ‘Lord, if he’s sleeping, he will get better.’13Jesus had been speaking about the death of Lazarus. But his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.14So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead.15For your benefit, I am glad I was not there. Now you will believe. But let us go to him.’16Then Thomas, who was also called Didymus, spoke to the rest of the disciples. ‘Let us go also,’ he said. ‘Then we can die with Jesus.’
Jesus comforts the sisters of Lazarus
17When Jesus arrived, he found out that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.18Bethany was less than 2 miles from Jerusalem.19Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary. They had come to comfort them because their brother was dead.20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him. But Mary stayed at home.21‘Lord’, Martha said to Jesus, ‘I wish you had been here! Then my brother would not have died.22But I know that even now God will give you anything you ask for.’23Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’24Martha answered, ‘I know he will rise again. This will happen when people are raised from the dead on the last day.’25Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even if they die.26And whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’27‘Yes, Lord,’ she replied. ‘I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God. I believe that you are the one who is supposed to come into the world.’28After she said this, she went back home. She called her sister Mary to one side to talk to her. ‘The Teacher is here,’ Martha said. ‘He is asking for you.’29When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.30Jesus had not yet entered the village. He was still at the place where Martha had met him.31Some Jews had been comforting Mary in the house. They noticed how quickly she got up and went out. So they followed her. They thought she was going to the tomb to mourn there.32Mary reached the place where Jesus was. When she saw him, she fell at his feet. She said, ‘Lord, I wish you had been here! Then my brother would not have died.’33Jesus saw her crying. He saw that the Jews who had come along with her were crying also. His spirit became very sad, and he was troubled.34‘Where have you put him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied.35Jesus wept.36Then the Jews said, ‘See how much he loved him!’37But some of them said, ‘He opened the eyes of the blind man. Couldn’t he have kept this man from dying?’
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
38Once more Jesus felt very sad. He came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone in front of the entrance.39‘Take away the stone,’ he said. ‘But, Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad smell. Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days.’40Then Jesus said, ‘Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?’41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up. He said, ‘Father, I thank you for hearing me.42I know that you always hear me. But I said this for the benefit of the people standing here. I said it so they will believe that you sent me.’43Then Jesus called in a loud voice. He said, ‘Lazarus, come out!’44The dead man came out. His hands and feet were wrapped with strips of linen. A cloth was around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the clothes he was buried in and let him go.’
The plan to kill Jesus
45Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary saw what Jesus did. So they believed in him.46But some of them went to the Pharisees. They told the Pharisees what Jesus had done.47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What can we do?’ they asked. ‘This man is performing many signs.48If we let him keep on doing this, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will come. They will take away our temple and our nation.’49One of the Jewish leaders spoke up. His name was Caiaphas. He was high priest at that time. He said, ‘You don’t know anything at all!50You don’t realise what is good for you. It is better if one man dies for the people than if the whole nation is destroyed.’51He did not say this on his own because he was high priest at that time. He prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation.52He also prophesied that Jesus would die for God’s children scattered everywhere. He would die to bring them together and make them one.53So from that day on, the Jewish rulers planned to kill Jesus.54Jesus no longer moved around openly among the people of Judea. Instead, he went away to an area near the desert. He went to a village called Ephraim. There he stayed with his disciples.55It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast. Many people went up from the country to Jerusalem. They went there for the special washing that would make them pure before the Passover Feast.56They kept looking for Jesus as they stood in the temple courtyard. They asked one another, ‘What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the feast at all?’57But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders. They had commanded anyone who found out where Jesus was staying to report it. Then they could arrest him.