Therefore they sought again to take Him but He escaped out of their hand and went away again beyond Jordan to the place where John at first baptized. There He abode. And many resorted unto Him, and said, John did no miracle but all things that John spoke of this man were true. And many believed on Him there.
11. Now a certain man was sick. His name was Lazarus of Bethany. His sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard this, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might thereby be glorified. Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. However, He remained two more days in the same place where He was. Then saith He to His disciples, Let us go into Judaea. His disciples say unto Him, Master, the Jews have sought to stone Thee. Goest Thou there 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.
After that He saith to them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said His disciples, Lord, if he sleeps, he shall do well. However, Jesus spoke of death but they thought that He had spoken of taking 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 extent ye may believe. Let us go unto him. Then Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go that we may die with Him.
When Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had already lain in the grave four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off, and many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother. Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him but Mary remained in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here my brother would not have 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, Yes, 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 and called Mary, her sister, 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. Some Jews that were with her in the house to comfort her, saw Mary hastily rise up and go out. They followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then, when Mary came 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 saw her weeping, and those who came with her also weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. He 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 He who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that 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 know that Thou hearest me always. Because of these standing by I say 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. Now he that was dead came forth bound hand and foot with graveclothes and his face was wound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what things Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered 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 so the whole nation perish not. And this spoke 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 to put Him to death.
Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews but went unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with His disciples. Now the Jews' passover was near at hand. Many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover in order to purify themselves. Then sought they for Jesus, and spoke among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that He will not come to the feast? The chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where He was, he should show it, that they might take Him.
12. Six days before the passover, Jesus came to Bethany where He had raised Lazarus from the dead. There they made Him a supper. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly ointment of spikenard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, Why was not this ointment sold for its great worth and given to the poor? This he said not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and held the bag, and minded what was put therein. Jesus said, Let her alone. Against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.