Jesus staid with his disciples in a place by himself. The wicked people, who wanted to kill him, could not find him, but Jesus’ friends knew where he was.

Jesus had more friends besides his disciples.

One of his friends was called Lazarus. Lazarus had two sisters; their names were Martha and Mary. These three all lived together. They all three loved Jesus, and Jesus loved them. Jesus used often to come and see them, and sit in the house and talk to them. Martha liked to make a fine dinner when Jesus came, but Mary liked to sit and listen to his sweet words.

At last Lazarus fell very sick.

Martha and Mary loved their brother Lazarus very much indeed. They knew that Jesus could make Lazarus well; so they sent a man to tell Jesus that Lazarus was sick.

The man went a great way to look for Jesus. Lazarus grew worse and worse. At last he died. His friends wrapped white cloths round his face, and his arms and his legs, and put him in a great hole, and rolled a stone before it.

Martha and Mary waited and longed for Jesus to come.

Four days passed, and at last Jesus came. Martha and Mary did not think that Jesus would make Lazarus alive again, for he had been dead so long; so they sat upon the ground and cried.

When Martha heard that Jesus was on the road a little way off, she came to Jesus and said, If you had been here, my brother had not died; and even now you could make him alive.

Then Jesus said, Your brother shall rise again.

Yes, said Martha, I know he will rise again at the last day, when all the dead people rise.

Martha was afraid that Jesus would not choose to make Lazarus alive soon; but she knew that he was able to do it.

Martha went back to the house, and found Mary still sitting on the ground, and a great many friends round her.

Martha whispered in her ear, and told her that Jesus wanted to speak to her. So Martha and Mary went together, and found Jesus waiting for them in the road.

Mary’s friends went with her, and they cried; and Mary cried very much indeed: and when she saw Jesus she fell down at his feet and said, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died.

Jesus was very sorry to see her so unhappy, and to see so many people crying: he felt very sad indeed, and he sighed very deeply. Jesus does not like to see anyone in trouble, he is so kind.

Then Jesus said, Where have you put Lazarus?

Martha and Mary and their friends said, Come and see; and they showed him the way.

As Jesus walked along, the tears rolled down his cheeks.

At last they came to the grave. It was a hole, and a very large stone was before the hole.

Then Jesus said, Take away the stone.

Martha thought that Jesus was going to look at Lazarus lying dead; and she said, Do not go in: his flesh has a bad smell by this time. He has been dead four days. But Jesus told her to believe that he could make him alive.

They then rolled away the stone.

Then Jesus lifted up his eyes to his Father in heaven, and thanked him for helping him to do wonderful things.

A great many people were standing by, looking at Jesus, and wondering what he would do.

Poor Martha and Mary were longing to see Lazarus alive again.

Then Jesus spoke loud and said, Lazarus, come forth.

Lazarus heard, though he was dead; for the dead hear the voice of Jesus. He got up and walked to the door of the hole. His hands were tied with cloths, and his feet wrapped round with cloths, and a cloth was over his face.

But Jesus said, Undo the cloths.

How pleased Martha and Mary must have been to see his face again! How they must have thanked the Lord Jesus for his kindness!

The people who saw all this were surprised, and said, Jesus must be the Son of God.