Jesus Raises Lazarus
Power over death and pointing to resurrection.
"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die."
John 11:25
Key Verse
"John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.'"
Story Background
The story of Jesus Raises Lazarus takes place in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, where Jesus had close friends - Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus. When Lazarus became seriously ill, his sisters sent word to Jesus, expecting Him to come quickly and heal their brother. However, Jesus deliberately delayed His arrival, allowing Lazarus to die and be buried for four days. This delay was not due to lack of love or concern, but to demonstrate God's power and glory through a greater miracle. When Jesus finally arrived, both Martha and Mary expressed their faith that Jesus could have prevented Lazarus' death, but Jesus used the situation to reveal Himself as the resurrection and the life. This story demonstrates Jesus' power over death, the importance of God's timing, and how God can use even the most difficult circumstances to reveal His glory and strengthen faith.
Characters
Jesus Christ
The Son of God who demonstrates His power over death
Personality: Loving, powerful, wise, compassionate, purposeful
Motivations: To reveal God's glory, strengthen faith, demonstrate His power over death
Lazarus
A man who was dead for four days before Jesus raised him
Personality: Beloved friend, ultimately restored to life
Motivations: To be with his sisters, to serve Jesus
Martha
The practical sister who meets Jesus first and expresses her faith
Personality: Practical, faithful, questioning, ultimately believing
Motivations: To see her brother healed, to understand Jesus' power
Mary
The emotional sister who falls at Jesus' feet in grief
Personality: Emotional, devoted, grieving, ultimately joyful
Motivations: To see her brother restored, to express her love for Jesus
The Disciples
Jesus' followers who witness the miracle and learn about His power
Personality: Concerned, learning, amazed, growing in faith
Motivations: To follow Jesus, to learn from Him, to avoid danger
The Jews
The people who came to comfort Mary and Martha
Personality: Mourning, comforting, witnessing, believing
Motivations: To comfort the sisters, to see what Jesus would do
Story Plot
Lazarus Falls Ill
Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
John 11:1
Significance: Sets up the crisis that drives the story
The Sisters Send for Jesus
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick.'
John 11:3
Significance: Shows the sisters' faith and expectation
Jesus' Deliberate Delay
When he heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.'
John 11:4
Significance: Shows Jesus' purpose and God's timing
Jesus' Love for the Family
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
John 11:5
Significance: Shows that Jesus' delay was not due to lack of love
Jesus' Purposeful Waiting
So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.
John 11:6
Significance: Shows Jesus' deliberate timing for God's glory
Jesus' Decision to Go
Then he said to his disciples, 'Let us go back to Judea.'
John 11:7
Significance: Shows Jesus' willingness to face danger for His friends
The Disciples' Concern
The disciples objected, 'But Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?'
John 11:8
Significance: Shows the disciples' concern for Jesus' safety
Jesus' Teaching on Light
Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble.'
John 11:9-10
Significance: Shows Jesus' confidence in God's timing
Jesus' Revelation of Lazarus' Death
Then he told them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.'
John 11:14-15
Significance: Shows Jesus' purpose in the delay
Thomas' Response
Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'
John 11:16
Significance: Shows the disciples' loyalty despite their fear
Jesus' Arrival in Bethany
On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
John 11:17
Significance: Shows the extent of Lazarus' death and Jesus' timing
Martha's Meeting with Jesus
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
John 11:20
Significance: Shows Martha's eagerness and Mary's grief
Martha's Faith and Questioning
Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.'
John 11:21-22
Significance: Shows Martha's faith mixed with questioning
Jesus' Declaration
Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.'
John 11:25
Significance: Shows Jesus' identity and the central message of the story
Martha's Confession of Faith
Martha answered, 'Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.'
John 11:27
Significance: Shows Martha's growing faith and understanding
Mary's Meeting with Jesus
When 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.'
John 11:32
Significance: Shows Mary's deep grief and love for Jesus
Jesus' Emotional Response
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
John 11:33
Significance: Shows Jesus' compassion and emotional response to human suffering
Jesus' Tears
Jesus wept.
John 11:35
Significance: Shows Jesus' humanity and compassion
The Jews' Response
Then the Jews said, 'See how he loved him!'
John 11:36
Significance: Shows the impact of Jesus' love on the witnesses
Jesus' Command to Remove the Stone
Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha objected, 'But, Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.'
John 11:39
Significance: Shows the practical concerns and Jesus' authority
Jesus' Prayer
Then Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I 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.'
John 11:41-42
Significance: Shows Jesus' relationship with the Father and His purpose
The Command to Rise
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!'
John 11:43
Significance: Shows Jesus' authority over death
Lazarus' Resurrection
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
John 11:44
Significance: Shows the immediate and complete nature of the miracle
Jesus' Command to Unbind
Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go.'
John 11:44
Significance: Shows Jesus' care for the practical details
Key Lessons
Jesus has power over death and is the source of life
God's timing is perfect, even when it seems delayed
God can use difficult circumstances to reveal His glory
Faith can grow through questioning and difficult times
Jesus is deeply moved by human suffering and grief
God's purposes are greater than our immediate desires
Jesus' miracles are meant to strengthen faith and reveal His identity
Death is not the end for those who believe in Jesus
Symbolism & Meaning
Lazarus' Death
The power of sin and death over humanity
John 11:14
The Four Days
The completeness of death and the impossibility of human hope
John 11:17
The Stone
The barrier between life and death
John 11:39
The Grave Clothes
The trappings of death that Jesus removes
John 11:44
Jesus' Tears
God's compassion and identification with human suffering
John 11:35
Historical Context
Time & Society
Period: Around 30 AD, during Jesus' ministry
Social Structure: Close-knit family and community relationships
Religion & Culture
Worship: Jewish burial customs, mourning practices
Lifestyle: Bethany, a village near Jerusalem
Theological Themes
Jesus as the Resurrection and Life
Jesus declares Himself as the source of life and conqueror of death
I am the resurrection and the life
God's Timing and Purpose
God's delays serve His greater purposes and glory
My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways
Faith and Belief
Jesus' miracles are designed to strengthen faith and reveal His identity
These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ
God's Glory Through Suffering
God can use even the most difficult circumstances to reveal His glory
All things work together for good for those who love God
Modern Applications
Understanding that Jesus has power over all forms of death in our lives
Recognizing that God's timing is perfect even when we don't understand
Seeing how God can use difficult circumstances for His glory
Understanding that faith can grow through questioning and difficulty
Recognizing that Jesus is deeply moved by our suffering
Understanding that God's purposes are greater than our immediate desires
Seeing how Jesus' power can transform our hopeless situations
Understanding that death is not the end for believers
Discussion Questions
Personal Reflection
- 1
When have you felt that God was delaying His answer to your prayers?
- 2
How do you respond when God doesn't work according to your timeline?
- 3
What does this story teach you about Jesus' power over death?
- 4
How does this story help you understand God's timing?
Group Discussion
- 1
How does this story show Jesus' power over death?
- 2
What can we learn about God's timing from this story?
- 3
How does this story demonstrate the purpose of Jesus' miracles?
- 4
What does this teach us about faith in difficult circumstances?
Family Discussion
- 1
Why did Jesus wait so long to help Lazarus?
- 2
What does it mean that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?
- 3
How can we trust God when things seem hopeless?
- 4
What does this story teach us about Jesus' love for us?
A Prayer for Reflection
"Heavenly Father, as we reflect on the story of Jesus Raises Lazarus, open our hearts to the lessons You have placed within it.
Give us wisdom to understand Your Word, courage to live by it, and humility to grow through it.
May this story deepen our faith, strengthen our character, and draw us closer to You.
In Jesus' name, Amen."
Take a moment to reflect on this story and how it applies to your life today.