Lazarus of Bethany

John 11:1–7 ESV

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

John 10:39–42 ESV

Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.

Jesus was across the Jordan in the place where John had been baptizing.

Batanea

150km northeast of Jerusalem

Family: Lazarus, Martha, and Mary

Lived in Bethany, less than two miles from Jerusalem

Friends of Jesus

Mary who anointed Jesus with oil.

Everyone knew of the family and the story of Mary.

They let Jesus know about Lazarus.

Lazarus is short for Eleazar meaning God

Purpose: God’s glory

Jesus didn’t go, but waited a few days.

Jesus loved them.

Egapa, imperfect tense—continuative

Lazarus was alive when Jesus got word of his illness.

Jesus waited.

Lazarus died.

By the time Jesus got to Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb four days.

So why did he wait?