JESUS RAISES LAZARUS--JEWS SEEK HIS LIFE.
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 Judea 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 fellow disciples,
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 saith 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 grave-clothes:
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. Then gathered the
chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for
this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all _men_ will
believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place
and nation.
And one of them, _named_ Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year,
said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is
expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the
whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being
high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that
nation; and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather
together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then
from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence
unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and
there continued with his disciples.
And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received
up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers
before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the
Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because
his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples
James and John saw _this_, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command
fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But
he turned, and rebuked them, and said,
Ye know not what manner of spirits ye are of. For the Son of
man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save _them_.
And they went to another village. And it came to pass, that, as they
went in the way, a certain _man_ said unto him, Lord I will follow thee
withersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him,
Foxes have holes, and birds of the air _have_ nests; but the
Son of man hath not where to lay _his_ head.
And he said unto another,
Follow me.
But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said
unto him,
Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the
kingdom of God.
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid
them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him,
No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God.