PER273

The resurrection of Lazarus

Jesus raises Lazarus at Bethany, revealing his divine power over death, as a prelude to Passover. Between Hanukkah and Passover, after two days of reflection, Jesus makes the significant journey that includes memorable encounters in Jericho, foreshadowing the imminent Passion. The reaction of the religious authorities to this miracle hastens the crucifixion of Jesus.

5 min Resurrection Jesus Lazarus Bethany 1 verse 1 book

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Biblical texts

Matthew

Matthew (King James Version) not cited in the book

Mark

Mark (King James Version) not cited in the book

Luke

Luke (King James Version) not cited in the book

John

John 11.1-46 (King James Version)

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

When 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.

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again.

His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

Jesus 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.

But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

These 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.

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

The 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.

Then 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.

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Jesus wept.

Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

And 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?

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

Jesus 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.

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Then 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.

And 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.

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

And 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.

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Technical details

Location: Bethany, near Jerusalem

Date: February or early March AD 33

Method: We continue with John

Note on the method: John is the only one to report this episode

After waiting and travelling, the Messiah Jesus arrives at Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha live, whose brother Lazarus has died.

Comments

Lazarus, a man of Bethany, falls gravely ill. He lives with his sisters, , in a house where the Messiah Jesus is often welcomed with affection. The two women, aware of the deep love the Messiah Jesus has for their brother, send him a simple, trusting message: “He whom you love is sick.” They make no specific request, convinced that his love is enough to move him to act.

The Messiah Jesus receives the news, but he declares that this sickness will not lead to final death: it will serve to display the glory of God. Despite his attachment to this family, he stays two more days where he is. This delay is not a lack of love, but a deliberate decision, part of a greater purpose.

After these two days, the Messiah Jesus tells his disciples that he is going back to Judea. They are alarmed, because the region is dangerous: there was a recent attempt to stone him (PER219, PER260, PER274). The Messiah Jesus answers that whoever walks in the light has nothing to fear. He then explains to them that Lazarus “has fallen asleep,” a way of speaking about death that expresses both gentleness and hope. The disciples take the expression literally, and the Messiah Jesus has to make it plain that Lazarus is really dead. He adds that he is glad, for their sake, that he was not there, so that they may believe in him all the more.

As he comes near Bethany, the Messiah Jesus learns that Lazarus has already been in the tomb for four days. Many Jews have come to comfort in their mourning. Martha goes out to meet the Messiah Jesus and tells him that if the Master had been there, her brother would not have died. Yet she keeps a deep trust: she knows that God will grant the Messiah Jesus whatever he asks. He answers her that her brother will rise again. Martha thinks of the final resurrection, but the Messiah Jesus reveals to her something greater: he presents himself as “the resurrection and the life,” the one who gives life even beyond death.

Mary then joins the Messiah Jesus. She falls at his feet weeping, repeating the same words as her sister. He is deeply moved on seeing Mary’s grief and that of the people who came to comfort her. He is troubled within himself and weeps himself. This moment shows his full humanity, his real compassion, his sincere love for his friends. Some witnesses are astonished at his tears, others murmur that he could have prevented Lazarus’s death.

The Messiah Jesus then goes to the tomb, a cave closed by a stone. He asks that it be taken away. Martha hesitates: after four days, the body must already be decaying. The Messiah Jesus reminds her that she will see the glory of God if she believes. The stone is removed. The Messiah Jesus lifts his eyes and prays to his Father, not to be heard, for he knows he is always heard, but so that the crowd may understand that the Father has sent him.

Then he cries out in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man comes out, still wrapped in grave clothes and with his face covered by a cloth. The Messiah Jesus orders that he be unbound and let go. This miracle, the most spectacular reported by John, shows both the divine power of the Messiah Jesus and his authority over death.

Many witnesses believe in him after seeing this. Others go and report the event to the religious authorities, which will trigger the official decision to put the Messiah Jesus to death. The raising of Lazarus thus becomes the ultimate sign that reveals the glory of the Son, but also the event that hastens the Passion.

La résurrection de Lazare. Jésus ressuscite Lazare à Béthanie, révélant son pouvoir divin sur la mort, en prélude aux Pâques. Entre Hanoucca et Pessa’h, après deux jours de réflexion, Jésus fait le voyage significatif incluant des rencontres marquantes à Jéricho, qui annonce la passion imminente. La réaction des autorités religieuses face à ce miracle accélère la crucifixion de Jésus. Commentaires. Lazare, un homme de Béthanie, tombe gravement malade. Il vit avec ses sœurs, Marthe et Marie, dans une maison où le Messie Jésus est souvent accueilli avec affection. Les deux femmes, conscientes de l’amour profond que le Messie Jésus porte à leur frère, lui envoient un message simple et confiant : « Celui que tu aimes est malade ». Elles ne formulent aucune demande précise, persuadées que son amour suffit pour le pousser à agir. Le Messie Jésus reçoit la nouvelle, mais il affirme que cette maladie ne conduira pas à la mort définitive : elle servira à manifester la gloire de Dieu. Malgré son attachement à cette famille, il demeure encore deux jours à l’endroit où il se trouve. Ce délai n’est pas un manque d’amour, mais une décision volontaire, inscrite dans un dessein plus grand. Après ces deux jours, le Messie Jésus annonce à ses disciples qu’il retourne en Judée. Ceux‑ci s’inquiètent, car la région est dangereuse : on a récemment tenté de le lapider (PER219, PER260, PER274). Le Messie Jésus leur répond que celui qui marche dans la lumière n’a rien à craindre. Il leur explique ensuite que Lazare « s’est endormi », une manière de parler de la mort qui exprime à la fois douceur et espérance. Les disciples prennent l’expression au sens littéral, et le Messie Jésus doit préciser que Lazare est réellement mort. Il ajoute qu’il se réjouit, pour eux, de n’avoir pas été présent, afin qu’ils croient davantage en lui. En arrivant près de Béthanie, le Messie Jésus apprend que Lazare est déjà dans le tombeau depuis quatre jours. Beaucoup de Juifs sont venus soutenir Marthe et Marie dans leur deuil. Marthe sort à la rencontre du Messie Jésus et lui dit que si le Maître avait été là, son frère ne serait pas mort. Pourtant, elle garde une confiance profonde : elle sait que Dieu exaucera le Messie Jésus en toute chose. Il lui répond que son frère ressuscitera. Marthe pense à la résurrection finale, mais le Messie Jésus lui révèle quelque chose de plus grand : il se présente comme « la résurrection et la vie », celui qui donne la vie même au‑delà de la mort. Marie rejoint ensuite le Messie Jésus. Elle tombe à ses pieds en pleurant, répétant les mêmes mots que sa sœur. Celui-ci est profondément ému en voyant la douleur de Marie et celle des personnes venues la soutenir. Il se trouble intérieurement et pleure lui‑même. Ce moment montre sa pleine humanité, sa compassion réelle, son amour sincère pour ses amis. Certains témoins s’étonnent de ses larmes, d’autres murmurent qu’il aurait pu empêcher la mort de Lazare. Le Messie Jésus se rend alors au tombeau, une grotte fermée par une pierre. Il demande qu’on la retire. Marthe hésite : après quatre jours, le corps doit déjà être en décomposition. Le Messie Jésus lui rappelle qu’elle verra la gloire de Dieu si elle croit. La pierre est enlevée. Le Messie Jésus lève les yeux et prie son Père, non pour être exaucé, il sait qu’il l’est toujours, mais pour que la foule comprenne que le Père l’a envoyé. Puis il crie d’une voix forte : « Lazare, sors ! ». Le mort sort, encore enveloppé de bandelettes et le visage couvert d’un linge. Le Messie Jésus ordonne qu’on le détache et qu’on le laisse aller. Ce miracle, le plus spectaculaire rapporté par Jean, manifeste à la fois la puissance divine du Messie Jésus et son autorité sur la mort. Beaucoup de témoins croient en lui après avoir vu cela. D’autres vont rapporter l’événement aux autorités religieuses, ce qui déclenchera la décision officielle de mettre le Messie Jésus à mort. La résurrection de Lazare devient ainsi le signe ultime qui révèle la gloire du Fils, mais aussi l’événement qui précipite la Passion.

The resurrection of Lazarus

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