thin king

The resurrection and the life

Among the disciples of Jesus, there were three siblings: Mary, Martha and Lazarus. They lived in Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem. Mary once anointed Jesus with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair. When Lazarus fell ill, Mary sent word to Jesus, "Master, the one you love is ill."

But Jesus responded by saying that the illness would not end in death but in the glory of God, to glorify the Son of God through it; and Jesus remained two days where he was preaching and performing miracles. Then Jesus headed for Judea, telling his disciples of his intention to awaken Lazarus from his sleep. He told them that Lazarus had died and explained Lazarus's death and its purpose.

When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Lazarus had been entombed for four days, and many Jews had gathered to comfort his sisters. Martha came and met Jesus saying, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." She added that even then God would grant whatever Jesus asked of God. When Jesus said that her brother would rise Martha replied that that would be in the resurrection on the last day.

Then Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Martha answered, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world." Then she went back and fetched Mary to Jesus, with all the Jews following. Mary fell at Jesus feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Jesus was upset and wept with Mary, and some of the Jews weeping with her asked why Jesus who performed miracles did not keep Lazarus from dying, since he loved them so much.

Then they went to the tomb, and Jesus instructed that the stone blocking the entrance be removed. Martha was afraid about the stench, but Jesus told her that she would see the glory of God if she believed.

The stone was removed, and Jesus, raising his eyes, said, "Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me."

Then in a loud voice he cried out, "Lazarus, come out !" The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go."

Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in Jesus.