01 · Read the passage
John 11:17-44
Scripture · Berean Standard Bible (BSB) · Public domain
17When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already spent four days in the tomb.
18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away,
19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them in the loss of their brother.
20So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him, but Mary stayed at home.
21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
22But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask of Him.”
23“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.
24Martha replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
26And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27“Yes, Lord,” she answered, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
28After Martha had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside to tell her, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.”
29And when Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.
30Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him.
31When the Jews who were in the house consoling Mary saw how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
34“Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered.
35Jesus wept.
36Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
37But some of them asked, “Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind also have kept Lazarus from dying?”
38Jesus, once again deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
39“Take away the stone,” Jesus said. “Lord, by now he stinks,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man. “It has already been four days.”
40Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
42I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, so they may believe that You sent Me.”
43After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them.
Verified source copy from the Free Use Bible API, retrieved 2026-09-19. Inspect source text.
02 · Understand the context
Read these words in their setting.
Editorial explanation · awaiting human review
Lazarus has died, and Martha and Mary are being comforted by others when Jesus arrives. Both sisters tell Him that their brother would not have died if He had been there. John records their honest words alongside Jesus’ words and actions.
Jesus declares Himself the resurrection and the life. He also meets their tears with deep emotion and weeps. The account does not portray grief as a failure of faith. The raising of Lazarus is a sign pointing to who Jesus is and the life He gives.
This particular sign is not a promise that every loss will be reversed now. Christian hope in Christ does not require a person to hide sorrow or follow a timetable for feeling better.
Notice in the text
- How does Jesus respond to the sisters’ words and to the people who are weeping?
- What does He reveal about Himself before Lazarus comes out of the tomb?
03 · Consider a faithful response
One step you can take.
Editorial application · consider your circumstances with wise counsel
- Tell God what you miss and what feels unresolved. You may pray with tears, silence, or a few words.
- Choose one manageable act of care today: accept a meal, take a short walk, or ask someone to sit with you.
- Let a trusted person know what would help. If grief is affecting your ability to function or you need more support, consider a qualified grief counselor.
A prayer prompt
Jesus, meet me in this loss. Help me bring my grief honestly to You and receive the care of people who can walk with me.
Suggested words for prayer, not a quotation from Scripture.
Bring this into a real conversation.
Share a memory, or say plainly: I do not need an explanation today; I would value your company.
Choose a trustworthy person and a safe setting. Nēr supports life in the church; it cannot replace people who know and care for you.