John 11:1-16 - Lazarus Dies

¹ Now a certain man named Lazarus, from Bethany, became sick. Bethany was the town where Mary and her sister Martha lived. [See 11:18]. ² This was the Mary who had poured the perfume on the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair [See Matt. 26:6-13], whose brother Lazarus was sick. ³ So, the sisters sent [someone] to Him, saying, "Look, Lord, the person you love [i.e., your dear friend, Lazarus] is sick."

⁴ But when Jesus heard this, He said, "This illness will not result in [his] death, but was intended to bring honor to God, so that the Son of God would be honored by it." ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister [Mary] and [her brother] Lazarus. ⁶ So, when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was [i.e., on the east side of the Jordan River. See 10:40] for two [more] days. ⁷ Then, after this, He said to His disciples, "Let us go [back] to Judea again."

⁸ The disciples replied to Him, "The Jews [there] have just been trying to stone you, and you are going back again?"

⁹ Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in a day? [i.e., hours of daylight]. If a person walks during daylight, he will not stumble because he can see [by] the sun's light. ¹⁰ But if he walks at night he [might] stumble, because there is no light [to see by]. [Note: These words have a figurative meaning as Jesus is speaking about His mission in life]. ¹¹ After saying these things He said to His disciples, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going to wake him up."

¹² But the disciples said to Him, "Lord, if he is [only] asleep, he will get well."

¹³ Now Jesus had been talking about Lazarus' death, but the disciples thought He was referring to normal sleep. ¹⁴ So, Jesus said plainly, "Lazarus is dead. ¹⁴ So, Jesus said plainly, "Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there [when he died], so that [now] you will believe [i.e., when you see him miraculously raised up]. But let us go to him [now]."

¹⁶ Then Thomas, which means, "The Twin," said to his fellow disciples, "Let us go too, so we can die with Him." [i.e., by being stoned to death with Jesus. See 11:8].