Raising Lazarus - Jesus Defeats Death

One day, Lazarus became very sick. His fever was high, and he grew weaker and weaker. Mary and Martha were very worried! They took care of their brother, but he kept getting worse. "We need Jesus!" they said to each other. "Jesus can heal him!" So they sent an urgent message to Jesus: "Lord, the one You love is very sick. Please come!"

But Jesus was in another town, about two days' journey away. When Jesus received the message, He said something surprising. "This sickness will not end in death," Jesus told His disciples. "It is for God's glory, so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, but He didn't rush to Bethany right away. He stayed where He was for two more days.

Meanwhile, back in Bethany, Lazarus was getting worse. Mary and Martha kept watching the road, hoping to see Jesus coming. But Lazarus was so sick! And then, the worst happened - Lazarus died. Mary and Martha's hearts were broken! They wept as they wrapped their dear brother's body in burial cloths, according to their custom. Their friends and neighbors came to cry with them. They placed Lazarus's body in a tomb - a cave carved into the rock - and rolled a heavy stone in front of the entrance. Lazarus had been dead and in the tomb for four days.

Finally, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let's go to Bethany. Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, and I'm going to wake him up."

The disciples were confused. "Lord, if he's sleeping, he'll get better!" they said.

Jesus explained plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And for your sake, I'm glad I wasn't there, so that you may believe. But let's go to him now."

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she ran out to meet Him on the road. Tears streamed down her face. "Lord," she said, "if You had been here, my brother would not have died!" You could hear the sadness and confusion in her voice. She believed Jesus could have healed Lazarus - but now it was too late. Or was it?

Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

Martha nodded sadly. "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day," she said. She knew that one day, far in the future, God would raise all His people from the dead. But that seemed so far away! She wanted her brother back now!

Jesus looked at Martha with great love and said something amazing: "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die. And whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Martha looked into Jesus's eyes. Even through her tears and grief, her faith was strong. "Yes, Lord!" she declared. "I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God!"

Then Martha ran back to get her sister Mary. "The Teacher is here," she whispered. "He's asking for you!" Mary jumped up immediately and hurried to meet Jesus, with a crowd of mourners following her.

When Mary saw Jesus, she fell at His feet, crying. "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!" she said, just as Martha had.

Jesus saw Mary weeping. He saw all the people crying. And Jesus was deeply moved. His heart filled with sorrow for His friends' pain. Tears came to Jesus's eyes. "Where have you laid him?" Jesus asked.

"Come and see, Lord," they said.

As they walked toward the tomb, Jesus wept. The people around Him saw His tears and said, "See how much He loved Lazarus!" But some whispered, "If He could heal blind people, couldn't He have kept Lazarus from dying?"

When they came to the tomb, Jesus stood before the large stone that sealed the entrance. "Take away the stone," Jesus said.

Martha gasped. "But Lord," she said, "he's been dead for four days! There will be a terrible smell!" In that hot climate, a body would decay quickly.

Jesus looked at her gently. "Didn't I tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" he said.

So the men rolled away the heavy stone. Everyone stared at the dark opening of the tomb. What was Jesus going to do?

Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed out loud. "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me."

Then, in a loud voice that echoed off the hills, Jesus called out: "Lazarus, come out!"

Everyone held their breath. For a moment, everything was silent. Then, from the darkness of the tomb, something moved! A figure appeared at the entrance - wrapped from head to toe in burial cloths, shuffling forward! It was Lazarus! He was alive!

The crowd gasped! Some people screamed! Others fell to their knees! It was impossible, yet it was happening right before their eyes! Lazarus had been dead for four days, and now he was walking out of the tomb!

"Take off the grave clothes and let him go," Jesus said with a smile.

With shaking hands, people unwrapped the burial cloths from Lazarus. There he stood - alive, healthy, and whole! Mary and Martha ran to hug their brother, laughing and crying at the same time! Their mourning had turned to joy! The people who witnessed this miracle were amazed! Many of them believed in Jesus right then and there.

That day, Jesus showed everyone that He has power over death itself! He is the resurrection and the life! And this miracle was like a preview of what Jesus would do just a few weeks later - He would rise from the dead Himself, defeating death forever!

This incredible story teaches us so many important truths! First, it shows us that Jesus cares deeply about our pain. He wept with Mary and Martha. When we're sad, Jesus cares! Second, it shows us that Jesus's timing is perfect, even when we don't understand it. Mary and Martha wished Jesus had come sooner, but Jesus had a bigger plan - not just to heal Lazarus, but to show everyone that He has power over death! Third, it teaches us about faith. Martha believed in Jesus even when things seemed hopeless. And finally, this story gives us hope! Because Jesus defeated death, everyone who believes in Him will live forever! One day, Jesus will call all His people out of their graves, just like He called Lazarus. Death is not the end for those who trust in Jesus - it's just the beginning of eternal life! Jesus truly is the resurrection and the life!

Big idea: God is always with us and loves us very much!