João 11

Lazarus of Bethany

1 Now a certain man, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha, was sick. 2 (It was the Mary who [later]*John is writing many years after the fact. Mary became identified by her famous deed, which actually took place several weeks after the raising of Lazarus, and is recorded in chapter 12. anointed the Lord with myrrh and wiped His feet with her hair whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 So the sisters sent to Him saying, "Lord, please, the one you love is sick!"

Jesus lets Lazarus die on purpose

4 Upon hearing it Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." 5 (Now Jesus loved*Here the verb is αγαπαω; in verse 3 it is φιλεω. Martha and her sister and Lazarus.) 6 So, when He heard that he was sick He stayed where He was two more days!*And how long had it taken the messengers to find Him? Perhaps no more than a day; from Bethany to Jericho was all downhill. 7 Then after this He says to the disciples, "Let us go into Judea again."*They are in Perea, on the eastern side of the Jordan.

8 The disciples say to Him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and you are going back there?" 9 Jesus answered: "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks during the day he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night he does stumble, because the light is not in him."*"The light is not in him"—I take it that here in verse 10 Jesus refers to spiritual darkness and light, because no one has sunlight inside him. With God’s light inside, Jesus was not going to stumble, regardless of the time of day.

11 Having said these things He says to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going in order to awaken him." 12 His disciples said to Him, "Lord, if he is sleeping he will get well." 13 But Jesus had spoken of his death, while they thought He was talking about natural sleep. 14 So then Jesus said to them plainly: "Lazarus died.