Gospel Art Picture Kit
John 11:1–45
He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth. John 11:43–44
Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, lived in Bethany, a town in Judea. They were faithful followers of Jesus, and He loved them. Jesus was in Galilee when He learned Lazarus was ill. (See John 11:1–5.) Two days later He started for Bethany. His disciples, however, were worried because certain Jews in Judea wanted to kill Jesus. (See John 11:6–8.) Jesus knew that Lazarus had already died, but He needed to go anyway (see John 11:11–15). Despite his fears for Jesus, the Apostle Thomas suggested to the others, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16).
By the time Jesus neared Bethany, Lazarus had been dead four days. Friends had gathered to comfort Mary and Martha. (See John 11:17–19.) As soon as Martha heard Jesus was coming, she hurried to meet Him and said, “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” (John 11:21–22; see also John 11:20).
Jesus assured Martha that Lazarus would rise again, and Martha replied that she knew he would rise again in the Resurrection (see John 11:23–24). Then Jesus said, “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” (John 11:25–26).
Martha returned home and told Mary that Jesus was coming. Mary ran to meet Him, and her comforters followed. (See John 11:28–31.) When Mary came to Jesus, she fell at His feet, saying, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (John 11:32). Seeing Mary and her friends weeping, Jesus, too, wept for His friend Lazarus (see John 11:33–35). “Behold how he loved him!” the people said, though some of them wondered why Jesus had not kept Lazarus from dying (see John 11:36–37).
Jesus went to the grave, which was a cave with a stone over the opening, and asked that the stone be taken away (see John 11:38–39). They removed the stone, and Jesus prayed aloud, thanking Heavenly Father for hearing His prayer. He wanted the people to understand that He had been sent by God. (See John 11:41–42.) Jesus then cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth”; Lazarus came back to life and walked out of the cave (see John 11:43–44). His body was wrapped with graveclothes, so Jesus said, “Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44).
Many of the people who had followed Mary to the grave saw this great miracle and believed in Jesus (see John 11:45).
Summary
Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, were faithful followers of Jesus. He loved them dearly. After hearing that Lazarus was very ill, Jesus went to them. By the time He arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Jesus prayed to Heavenly Father, then commanded Lazarus to rise from the dead. Lazarus came back to life. Many people saw this miracle and believed in Jesus.
Artist, Carl Heinrich Bloch
Used by permission of the National Historic Museum at Frederiksborg in Hillerød.
© 2002 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA
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