Wait a minute. I’m confused.

Last week you told me a story about Lazarus. You said he died and went to heaven.

Now you’re trying to tell me that Lazarus is sick?

I didn’t think people got sick in heaven.

Oh. This is a different Lazarus?

I get it. I think.?

***

Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha were good friends of Jesus. They lived in Bethany, near Jerusalem.

Lazarus was sick, and his sisters sent word to Jesus to tell him.

***

I thought Jesus already knew everything.

I am listening.

***

When Jesus heard of Lazarus’ illness He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where He was two more days.

***

I bet there was good food where He was.

***

After two days Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

***

I guess they ate all the food.

***

Jesus’ disciples were concerned because the Jews tried to stone Him there, so Jesus told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

The disciples figured Lazarus would be alright if he slept, so Jesus had to tell them plainly. “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

***

Do you think Lazarus ran out of food and starved? Jesus shouldn’t go where there’s no food.

I will listen. I’m just sayin’.

***

Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

When Jesus arrived Lazarus had been dead four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming she went out to meet Him.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “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 said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

***

I bet Jesus brought some food with him. I’d rise from the dead if there was food.

***

Martha answered Jesus, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she told Him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

***

Hey, wasn’t Martha the one who made all that food when Jesus was there before?

Okay, I’ll listen.

***

Martha left to get her sister Mary. When Mary left the house many Jews who were there to comfort her followed her, thinking she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” He asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

Jesus wept.

***

I’m starting to get teary eyed too now. Do dogs cry?

***

Then the Jews said about Jesus, “See how He loved him!”

But some of them said, “Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” He said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

***

Martha doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I bet they’ll find a sweet aroma coming out of there.

I am too listening.

***

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “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.”

When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

***

I sure hope they gave him some food.