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Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
John 11:1-45
Characters: Narrator, Jesus, John, Thomas, Mourner, Mary, Martha, Messenger
Narrator:
Jesus’ friend Lazarus got very sick right before Holy Week. He was from
Bethany, and he lived with his sister Martha. Mary, the one that poured
perfume on Jesus earlier, also lived in the village and was a friend of
Lazarus. Mary and Martha sent a messenger to Jesus to tell him the bad
news:
Messenger:
Lord, the one you love, Lazarus, is sick.
Jesus:
This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s
Son may be glorified through it.
Narrator:
Oddly, Jesus did not follow the messenger back to Lazarus. Instead, he
stayed and preached in the city he was at for an additional two days.
After those days had passed, he then told his disciples:
Jesus:
Let us go back to Judea, and see Lazarus.
John:
But Rabbi, just a short while ago, you were almost stoned in Judea. Are
you sure you really want to go back?
Jesus:
Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime
will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person
walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.
Narrator:
Jesus and his disciples started to walk back to Bethany. Along the way,
Jesus said to them:
Jesus:
Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going back to wake him up.
John:
Lord, if he sleeps, then he will get better.
Narrator:
But, Jesus was not talking about regular sleep:
Jesus:
Lazarus is dead. And for your sake, I am glad I was not there to heal his
illness, so that you may believe.
Narrator:
After Jesus had said this to his disciples, Thomas told the others:
Thomas:
Let us go with Jesus, so that we may also be stoned with him in Judea.
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Narrator:
When Jesus and his disciples arrived in Bethany, he found out that
Lazarus had already been dead for four days. Many people were at
Martha’s home, mourning the loss of her brother. Martha greeted Jesus
and his disciples when they arrived:
Martha:
Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know
that even now God will give you whatever you ask.
Jesus:
Your brother will rise again.
Martha:
Yes, I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.
Jesus:
I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even
though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do
you believe this?
Martha:
Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to
come into the world.
Narrator:
Martha then led Jesus to Mary, and told her:
Martha:
Mary, the teacher is here.
Mary:
Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
Narrator:
The moment Mary said that, she began to cry. Jesus noticed her crying,
and was deeply moved. He asked the mourners surrounding Mary:
Jesus:
Where have you laid him?
Mourner:
Lord, come and see.
Narrator:
The mourners, along with Mary and Martha, led Jesus to the tomb
Lazarus was buried in. When Jesus saw the tomb, he wept. One of the
mourners saw Jesus weeping, and said:
Mourner:
This man has opened the eyes of the blind. Couldn’t he have healed
Lazarus and kept him from dying?
Jesus:
Take away the stone from the tomb.
Martha:
But Lord, Lazarus died four days ago. He probably smells really bad now.
Jesus:
Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?
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Narrator:
The mourners rolled away the stone, just as Jesus had asked. Jesus then
prayed:
Jesus:
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.
Narrator:
After Jesus had prayed, he shouted at the tomb:
Jesus:
Lazarus, come out!
Narrator:
At that moment, Lazarus came out of his grave, wrapped in grave clothes.
Jesus:
Take off his grave clothes, and let him go.
Narrator:
All the mourners that saw Lazarus come out of the tomb believed in
Jesus. The Pharisees and Sadducees were also with them, and saw the
miracle. They began discussing how they could kill Jesus.
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Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
ASLEEP IN JESUS
BROTHER
DEATH
JUDEA
LIFE
MARY
RESURRECTION
STUMBLE
WEEPING
BETHANY
COMFORT
HEALING
KYRIE
LIGHT
MOURNER
SLEEPING
THOMAS
BLASPHEMY
DAYLIGHT
ILLNESS
LAZARUS
MARTHA
NIGHT
STONING
TOMB
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