Bible narrative Raising of Lazarus

the raising of lazarus, oil on canvas, c. 1517–1519, sebastiano del piombo (national gallery, london)

according john 11:1-44, jesus receives message lazarus ill, , 2 sisters seeking help. jesus tells followers: sickness not end in death. no, god s glory god s son may glorified through it.

jesus delays departure 2 days. disciples afraid of returning judea, jesus says: our friend lazarus asleep, going awaken him. when apostles misunderstand, clarifies, lazarus dead, , sake glad not there, may believe.

when arrive in bethany, lazarus has been dead , buried 4 days. before enter town, martha, lazarus sister, comes meet jesus , tells him: if had been here, brother not have died . jesus assures martha brother rise again , states: resurrection , life. believes in me live, though dies; , whoever lives , believes in me never die. believe this?

martha s affirmation indeed believe, yes, lord. believe messiah, son of god, come world , second time (after nathanael) declares jesus son of god , first time equates him messiah , son of god together. other time happens in entire gospel in explanation author of gospel gives writing gospel @ end.

sixth century mosaic of raising of lazarus, church of sant apollinare nuovo, ravenna, italy.

upon entering village, jesus met mary , people have come console her. upon seeing grief , weeping, jesus moved. then, after asking buried, shortest verse in 4 gospels, , entire bible found - jesus wept. after that, jesus asks stone of grave removed, martha interjects there smell. jesus responds, did not tell if believed, see glory of god?

so took away stone. jesus looked , said: father, thank you have heard me. knew hear me, said benefit of people standing here, may believe sent me.

when had said this, jesus called in loud voice, lazarus, come out! dead man came out, hands , feet wrapped strips of linen, , cloth around face. jesus said them, take off grave clothes , let him go.

lazarus mentioned again in gospel of john chapter 12. 6 days before passover on jesus crucified, jesus returns bethany , lazarus attends supper martha, sister, serves. jesus , lazarus attract attention of many jews , narrator states chief priests consider having lazarus put death because many people have come believe in jesus on account of raising lazarus.