- 1Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
- 2(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
- 3Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
- 4When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
- 5Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
- 6When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
- 7Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again.
- 8His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
- 9Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
- 10But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
- 11These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
- 12Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
- 13Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
- 14Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
- 15And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
- 16Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
- 17Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
- 18Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
- 19And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
- 20Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
- 21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
- 22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
- 23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
- 24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
- 25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
- 26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
- 27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
- 28And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
- 29As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
- 30Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
- 31The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
- 32Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
- 33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
- 34And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
- 35Jesus wept.
- 36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
- 37And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
- 38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
- 39Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
- 40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
- 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
- 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
- 43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
- 44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
- 45Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
- 46But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
- 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
- 48If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
- 49And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
- 50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
- 51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
- 52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
- 53Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
- 54Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
- 55 And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
- 56Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
- 57Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.
KING JAMES VERSION
JOHN 11
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
John 11 — Lazarus, Come Forth gathers the chapter’s central movement as Jesus’s identity, authority, mercy, and saving mission are revealed.
About this illustration
The illustration centers lazarus emerges wrapped from a rock-cut tomb as Jesus calls and mourners react in astonished joy. Other events and teachings remain in the chapter text rather than being crowded into one scene.
Scripture basis: John 11:1–57King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArtifact
First century AD, before AD 70
Caiaphas Ossuary
An ornate limestone ossuary from an excavated first-century Jerusalem tomb bears a debated inscription commonly read 'Joseph son of Qafa.' Its date, elite setting, and name make a Caiaphas family connection plausible, but no priestly title proves it held the Gospel high priest.
Matthew 26:3–5 · Matthew 26:57–68 · Luke 3:2
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArtifact
About AD 340
The Dogmatic Sarcophagus
The mid-fourth-century Dogmatic Sarcophagus joins creation, miracle, apostolic, and deliverance scenes in a two-register Roman tomb, witnessing Christian biblical interpretation after Nicaea without functioning as a literal illustrated creed.
Genesis 2:21–24 · John 11:38–44
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArchaeological site
Third–fourth centuries AD
The Biblical Frescoes of the Catacomb of Priscilla
Third-century burial chambers on Rome's Via Salaria preserve layered Christian images of rescue, resurrection, prayer, shepherding, and biblical memory within an active funerary landscape.
Luke 15:3–7 · Matthew 12:38–41 · Daniel 3:19–27
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
4th Century
Papyrus P6: John 10:1–2 in a Greek–Coptic Witness
Papyrus P6 is a fourth-century Egyptian Greek-Coptic manuscript complex in Strasbourg preserving John 10-11 alongside Coptic 1 Clement and James, a rare witness to multilingual Christian reading and composite book history.
John 10:1–10 · John 11:1–8 · John 11:45–52
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
7th Century
Papyrus P59: John 2:15–16 in a Greek Witness
P59, the seventh-century Nessana manuscript P. Colt 3 at the Morgan Library & Museum, preserves scattered passages from John 1–2, 11–12, 17–18, and 21 together with hermeneia material connected to late-antique biblical divination.
John 2:15–16 · John 11:40–52 · John 17:24–26
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
8th century
Codex Basilensis (GA 07)
Codex Basilensis (GA 07) is a 8th century Greek parchment codex preserving the four Gospels.
Matthew 5:1–16 · Mark 8:27–38 · Luke 15:11–32
View all 11 archaeology resources
- Bethany's Tomb of Lazarus and the Lazarium Complex
- Uncial 0306: The Good Shepherd and Lazarus in John
- Uncial 0217: John’s Bethany Anointing Narrative
- Fragmentum Sangallense (VL 20): Old Latin Lazarus Leaves
- Fragmenta Weingartensia (VL 18): A Palimpsest Old Latin Gospel Lectionary
Prophecy Events
Sermons
No Looking Back
Pastor Dean Odle uses an old family plow to illustrate Jesus’s warning in Luke 9:62 about following Him without looking back. Beginning with Romans 8 and John 10, he argues that discipleship requires continually hearing Christ’s voice, resisting the flesh, and surrendering self-will. He examines the excuses in Luke 14, shares personal accounts of ministry decisions, correction, and restoration, and turns to 1 John 2 and Proverbs 3 to urge trust in God’s direction. The sermon closes with warnings drawn from Lot’s wife and the parable of the talents, calling listeners to examine their faith, abide in Christ, and move forward in obedient, fruitful service.
Christian LivingSalvation and the GospelHoly Spirit and Spiritual GiftsDoctrine and Discernment
View sermon Demons & Deliverance Part 2 - Demons in Christians
In part two of his deliverance series, Pastor Dean Odle argues that a Christian can be genuinely saved and still require deliverance from demonic oppression or indwelling influence in areas of life that have not been surrendered or cleansed. He distinguishes salvation from sanctification and deliverance, using Israel’s exodus, wilderness journey, tabernacle cleansing, and several Gospel accounts as patterns for the believer’s continuing spiritual warfare.
Spiritual WarfareDoctrine and DiscernmentChrist Alone
View sermon Follow Through
In “Follow Through,” Pastor Dean Odle presents a Scripture-centered message about Satanic opposition, biblical love, prayer. Drawing especially from Romans 10, John 11, Luke 22, Revelation 19, the teaching emphasizes that Satan’s work is described through deception, accusation, temptation, and opposition to God’s purposes. Odle connects that foundation with the conviction that biblical love is demonstrated through truth, patience, sacrifice, and conduct toward others.
Spiritual Warfare
View sermon Showing 1–3 of 6 sermons
Music
What's His Name
A forceful call to lay down pride, refuse self-glory, and exalt Jesus Christ—the crucified and risen King whose name alone brings salvation.