John 11:1-16
Lazarus Has Fallen Asleep
Read the passage
1At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
2(Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was to anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.)
3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.”
4When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6So on hearing that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was for two days,
7and then He said to the disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8“Rabbi,” they replied, “the Jews just tried to stone You, and You are going back there?”
9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? If anyone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world.
10But if anyone walks at night, he will stumble, because he has no light.”
11After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.”
12His disciples replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better.”
13They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.
14So Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16Then Thomas called Didymus said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Mary and Martha send word that their brother Lazarus is sick. They appeal to Jesus as someone who loves him. John confirms that Jesus loves all three of them, then tells us something unexpected: after hearing the news, He stays where He is for two more days.
Jesus says the sickness will serve God's glory and the glory of His Son. This does not mean Lazarus will never die. Jesus later tells the disciples plainly that Lazarus is dead. Death will occur, but it will not be the final outcome of what Jesus is going to do.
Returning to Judea also means facing danger. The disciples remind Him that people there recently tried to stone Him. Jesus answers with the picture of walking in daylight, then says He is going to wake Lazarus. They think sleep means recovery until He explains that He means death. He tells them this journey will give them reason to believe.
Thomas says, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.” He expects danger rather than a resurrection, but he is willing to go with Jesus. The disciples do not yet understand the purpose Jesus has announced. They must follow before they see how His love, His delay, and His power over death belong together.
Questions
1 What purposes does Jesus give for what is happening?
AnswerHe says the sickness will bring glory to God and to the Son of God. He also tells the disciples that His absence will serve their belief. John makes clear that the delay does not mean Jesus has stopped loving this family.
2 What does Jesus mean when He says Lazarus has fallen asleep?
AnswerHe means Lazarus has died. The disciples think He means ordinary sleep, so He tells them plainly that Lazarus is dead.
3 Why are the disciples concerned about going back to Judea?
AnswerPeople there have recently tried to stone Jesus. Thomas expects that going with Him may mean dying with Him.
4 How can we pray when help seems delayed?
AnswerTell Jesus what is happening and what we fear. We can ask for help and keep caring for those who suffer, without pretending to know why we are waiting or promising that our situation will end like Lazarus's.
What This Means for Us
When God seems slow, the household may not have an explanation. It can still refuse indifference. Jesus' delay calls us to stay near people who suffer, to pray without pretending, and to make wise choices while the outcome remains hidden.
Thomas also reminds us that willingness to follow is not the same as understanding everything. A family can honor courage while admitting confusion, and it can reject the pressure to sound certain when someone is grieving.
Prayer
Jesus, be near us in grief and delay. Make our home honest enough to name its fear, merciful enough to stay with suffering people, and ready to take the next faithful step without pretending to know the outcome. Amen.