50 TIME-LIFE MIRACLES OF FAITH
THERETURNOFLAZARUS
DEATH
UNDONE
Jesus’ resurrection of Lazarus
prefigureshisownfateandis
considered by many to be definitive
proof of his divinityT
he Gospel of John describes one of Jesus’
most powerful acts: the raising of his friend
Lazarus from the dead. It is the only ac-
count of the miracle in the four gospels and
is the last such feat discussed in John.
Lazarus is living with his sisters Mary and Martha in
the town of Bethany, about two miles southeast of Jeru-
salem. When he falls sick, the women send word to Jesus,
asking him to come quickly. But Jesus does not set out for
two days, saying, “This sickness is not unto death, but for
the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified
thereby.”
Even when Jesus learns that Lazarus has died, he is not
troubled: He will soon show people what the miraculous
power of God can do. He knows death isn’t the end for those
who have faith.
When Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been dead
for four days and his body entombed in a cave. His sisters
and friends have gathered to mourn. Upset that Jesus has not
come sooner, Martha complains, “Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.” Reassuring her that all will
be well, Jesus makes a promise: “I am the resurrection and the
life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die,” ac-
cording to John.
Jesus and Martha go to Lazarus’ hillside grave, where
her sister Mary and the other mourners join them. The
profound grief of the crowd moves him sodeeply that
“Jesus wept,” even though he knows what is to follow. He
tells the mourners, “Take away the stone” that covers the
mouth of the cave. As they roll it away, Jesus commandsNEW TESTAMENT