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John chapter 11

English Standard Version

1Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." 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."
5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." 8The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" 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. 10But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." 11After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him." 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, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
17Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." 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." 25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."
28When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." 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. 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." 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." 35Jesus wept. 36So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"
38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 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." 40Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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." 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."
45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 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. 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." 49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. 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." 51He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
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.
55Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56They were looking for 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?" 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.
New International Version

1Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2(This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, 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 sick."
4When 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." 5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, 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 daytime 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 ) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Now Bethany was less than two miles 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?"
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 odor, 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 around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
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 realize 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.
New American Standard Bible

1Now a certain man was sick: Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, 'Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.' 4But when Jesus heard this, He said, 'This sickness is not meant for death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.' 5(Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.) 6So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. 7Then after this He *said to the disciples, 'Let’s go to Judea again.' 8The disciples *said to Him, 'Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and yet You are going there again?' 9Jesus replied, 'Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10But if anyone walks during the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.' 11This He said, and after this He *said to them, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may awaken him from sleep.' 12The disciples then said to Him, 'Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will come out of it.' 13Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about actual sleep. 14So Jesus then said to them plainly, 'Lazarus died, 15and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let’s go to him.' 16Therefore Thomas, who was called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, 'Let’s also go, so that we may die with Him!'
17So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away; 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them about their brother. 20So then Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed in the house. 21Martha then said to Jesus, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.' 23Jesus *said to her, 'Your brother will rise from the dead.' 24Martha *said to Him, 'I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.' 25Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, 26and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?' 27She *said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, and He who comes into the world.'
28When she had said this, she left and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, 'The Teacher is here and is calling for you.' 29And when she heard this, she *got up quickly and came to Him.
30Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still at the place where Martha met Him. 31Then the Jews who were with her in the house and were consoling her, when they saw that Mary had gotten up quickly and left, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32So when Mary came to the place where Jesus was, she saw Him and fell at His feet, saying to Him, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.' 33Therefore when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 34and He said, 'Where have you laid him?' They *said to Him, 'Lord, come and see.' 35Jesus wept. 36So the Jews were saying, 'See how He loved him!' 37But some of them said, 'Could this man, who opened the eyes of the man who was blind, not have also kept this man from dying?'
38So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, *came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39Jesus *said, 'Remove the stone.' Martha, the sister of the deceased, *said to Him, 'Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.' 40Jesus *said to her, 'Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?' 41So they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, 'Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.' 43And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' 44Out came the man who had died, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus *said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'
45Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.
47Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council meeting, and they were saying, 'What are we doing in regard to the fact that this man is performing many signs? 48If we let Him go on like this, all the people will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take over both our place and our nation.' 49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, 'You know nothing at all, 50nor are you taking into account that it is in your best interest that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish instead.' 51Now he did not say this on his own, but as he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation; 52and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.
54Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the region near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples.
55Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country prior to the Passover, in order to purify themselves. 56So they were looking for Jesus, and saying to one another as they stood in the temple area, 'What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?' 57Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might arrest Him.
Christian Standard Bible

1Now a man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair, and it was her brother Lazarus who was sick. 3So the sisters sent a message to him: "Lord, the one you love is sick."
4When Jesus heard it, he said, "This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." 5Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. 6So when he heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was. 7Then after that, he said to the disciples, "Let’s go to Judea again."
8"Rabbi," the disciples told him, "just now the Jews tried to stone you, and you’re going there again?"
9"Aren’t there twelve hours in a day?" Jesus answered. "If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10But if anyone walks during the night, he does stumble, because the light is not in him."
11He said this, and then he told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m on my way to wake him up."
12Then the disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well."
13Jesus, however, was speaking about his death, but they thought he was speaking about natural sleep. 14So Jesus then told them plainly, "Lazarus has died. 15I’m glad for you that I wasn’t there so that you may believe. But let’s go to him."
16Then Thomas (called "Twin" ) said to his fellow disciples, "Let’s go too so that we may die with him."
17When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Bethany was near Jerusalem (less than two miles away). 19Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother.
20As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22Yet even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."
23"Your brother will rise again," Jesus told her.
24Martha said to him, "I know that 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, even if he dies, will live. 26Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world."
28Having said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."
29As soon as Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. They followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to cry there.
32As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and told him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died!"
33When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved in his spirit and troubled.
34"Where have you put him?" he asked. "Lord," they told him, "come and see."
35Jesus wept.
36So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37But some of them said, "Couldn’t he who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?"
38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.
39"Remove the stone," Jesus said. Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, "Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days."
40Jesus said to her, "Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"
41So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you heard me. 42I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me." 43After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unwrap him and let him go."
45Therefore, many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what he did believed in him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
47So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and were saying, "What are we going to do since this man is doing many signs? 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."
49One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all! 50You’re not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish." 51He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children of God. 53So from that day on they plotted to kill him.
54Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews but departed from there to the countryside near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and he stayed there with the disciples.
55Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country to purify themselves before the Passover. 56They were looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple: "What do you think? He won’t come to the festival, will he?" 57The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it so that they could arrest him.
New Living Translation

1A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, 'Lord, your dear friend is very sick.'
4But when Jesus heard about it he said, 'Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.' 5So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7Finally, he said to his disciples, 'Let’s go back to Judea.'
8But his disciples objected. 'Rabbi,' they said, 'only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?'
9Jesus replied, 'There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.' 11Then he said, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.'
12The disciples said, 'Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!' 13They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
14So he told them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead. 15And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.'
16Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, 'Let’s go, too — and die with Jesus.'
17When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.'
23Jesus told her, 'Your brother will rise again.'
24Yes,' Martha said, 'he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.'
25Jesus told her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?'
27Yes, Lord,' she told him. 'I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.' 28Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, 'The Teacher is here and wants to see you.' 29So Mary immediately went to him.
30Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, 'Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.'
33When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.
34Where have you put him?' he asked them. They told him, 'Lord, come and see.' 35Then Jesus wept. 36The people who were standing nearby said, 'See how much he loved him!' 37But some said, 'This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?'
38Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance.
39Roll the stone aside,' Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, 'Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.'
40Jesus responded, 'Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?' 41So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, 'Father, thank you for hearing me. 42You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.' 43Then Jesus shouted, 'Lazarus, come out!' 44And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, 'Unwrap him and let him go!'
45Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. 46But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. 'What are we going to do?' they asked each other. 'This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.'
49Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, 'You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.'
51He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.
53So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death. 54As a result, Jesus stopped his public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem. He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples.
55It was now almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, and many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the purification ceremony before Passover began. 56They kept looking for Jesus, but as they stood around in the Temple, they said to each other, 'What do you think? He won’t come for Passover, will he?' 57Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest him.
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 Judea 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 fellow disciples, 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 show it, that they might take him.
New King James Version

1Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love 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 may be glorified through it.”
5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
8The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?”
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. 10But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”
12Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
14Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”
16Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
17So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
27She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
32Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
34And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
35Jesus wept. 36Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
37And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”
38Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
40Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
45Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
49And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
53Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
55And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” 57Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

What does John chapter 11 mean?

This passage contains one of the most famous stories of the Bible: the resurrection of Lazarus. Scripture gives few details about the relationship between Jesus and the three siblings: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We know that Jesus spent some time in their home (Luke 10:38–42), was greatly honored by Mary (Mark 14:3–9), considered a teacher by the two sisters (John 11:28), and that His love of the family was well-known (John 11:36). Despite that closeness, this narrative opens with Jesus some distance away, avoiding the hostile religious leaders of Jerusalem (John 10:39–40).

When Lazarus falls ill, the sisters send word to Jesus. Their hope is probably that Jesus would return immediately and heal their brother before he succumbs. On a first reading, Jesus' reply seems encouraging. However, He has a plan in mind that's not so simple. Looking at the timeline involved, it's clear this message gets to Jesus after Lazarus is already dead: with a two-day delay, Jesus will arrive four days after Lazarus' burial. That makes these words, which would have gotten back to Mary and Martha after their brother died, initially seem absurd (John 11:1–4).

Jesus has a purpose building for this incident. He has even hinted at this moment in His prior arguments with religious critics (John 5:28). He knows, well in advance, that a resurrection is at hand. The response of Jesus to Lazarus' illness is meant, in part, to help us understand how God views our circumstances. That view is often much, much different than ours. The disciples can't understand why Jesus would go back into hostile territory. They don't understand the point of trying to "wake up" a dead man. God, however, knows exactly what He's doing. The disciples are typically confused, but they also demonstrate their loyalty. Even if he's gloomy, Thomas shows resolve to follow Jesus anywhere and everywhere (John 11:5–16).

By the time Jesus makes it back to Bethany, there is absolutely no doubt that Lazarus is dead. The first person Jesus encounters in Bethany is Martha. She apparently sneaks away from the many mourners and can see Jesus with some level of privacy. This suits the practical, no-nonsense attitude she shows in other Scriptures. Her statement expresses more faith than criticism; she is not complaining, but she is mourning. Jesus further tests her beliefs, resulting in her beautiful expression of trusting reliance on God, and in Christ (John 11:17–27).

In contrast to Martha, Scripture implies that Mary is more emotional and impulsive. When she hears that Jesus has arrived, she makes a rapid and dramatic exit. This inspires curiosity in the mourners, who follow her and form the crowd who later witness the miracle. Mary echoes Martha's comment that Jesus could have prevented Lazarus' death (John 11:28–34).

Here, Jesus demonstrates great compassion and quietly weeps with Mary and Martha. This moment is crucial in our understanding of the nature of God. Jesus has purposefully arranged this situation in order to make a clear point. This miracle is another "sign" of His divine nature. Moments from now, Jesus will bring Lazarus back from the dead. And yet, He expresses clear emotion out of love for His friends. This is a milestone moment in the Bible, reminding us that God really, truly understands the pain we feel while we wait to see His plans unfold (John 11:35–37).

The raising of Lazarus is much more theatrical than some of Jesus' other miracles. At the wedding in Cana, few people even knew a miracle had occurred (John 2:7–11). When feeding thousands, it took time for people to become aware of what was happening (John 6:9–11). The man born blind gained his sight without Jesus even being there for the key moment (John 9:6–7). In this case, Jesus has purposefully waited until death is undeniable—Martha is understandably worried about her brother's corpse rotting. There is a crowd, and for the sake of that crowd Jesus openly declares that He is acting on the power and authority of God. Then He calls a dead man to life (John 11:38–44).

The response of witnesses to this miracle parallels other Scriptures about our approach to evidence. Some correctly interpret signs (John 20:30–31). Others are unsure, and yet others insist on resisting the truth, no matter what. Jesus' religious critics convene, but only to figure out how to counter Jesus' message—they have no interest in learning from His power. Caiaphas, a Sadducee installed as High Priest by the Romans, makes an accidental prophecy. That statement summarizes the reason Jesus came in human form: to serve as a perfect sacrifice atoning for human sin (Romans 5:12–19). The Council's decision is as extreme as their rejection: they agree, collectively, that Jesus must die (John 11:45–53).

As He has done in the past, Jesus moves outside of the religious leaders' immediate influence. This leads some to wonder if He'll keep His custom of attending the required feasts—such as Passover—in Jerusalem. What they don't know is that Jesus will soon enter the city hailed as a Messiah, then face arrest and death at the hands of His enemies (John 11:54–57).
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