n the happy home in Bethany where Jesus had been an honored
guest. A messenger was sent to Jesus in great haste, saying,

"Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick."

It was from Mary and Martha concerning their brother Lazarus.

Jesus sent the messenger back with this message,

"This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the
Son of God might be glorified thereby," and He remained two days longer
where He was. Then He said,

"Let us go into Judea again."

The disciples reminded Him that the Jews there had tried to take His
life.

"Our friend Lazarus sleepeth," said Jesus, "but I go that I may awaken
him out of sleep."

The disciples thought that if he slept he was doing very well, until
Jesus told them plainly,

"Lazarus is dead."

Then Thomas was full of sorrow and said,

"Let us also go that we may die with him."

Bethany was not far from Jerusalem, and when they reached the house of
Martha, Lazarus had been dead four days, and was placed in a rock tomb.
Many Jews from Jerusalem had come out to Bethany to comfort Mary and
Martha, and to mourn for their friend Lazarus.

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming she ran to meet Him, but Mary
sat still in the house. She thought, perhaps, that He had come too
late, and the same thought may have been in Martha's mind when she said,

"Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died, but I know that
even now whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee."

"Thy brother shall rise again," said Jesus.

"I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day,"
she said.

Then Jesus spoke those heavenly words that have been the comfort of the
sorrowful ever since,

"I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me
shall never die. Believest thou this?"

"Yea, Lord," answered Martha, "I believe that thou art the Christ, the
Son of God which should come into the world."

Then she called Mary quietly, so that the people who were noisily
wailing should not hear.

"The Master is come and calleth for thee," she said.

Then Mary rose quickly and went to meet Jesus The people who were
trying to comfort her followed her, for they thought she was going to
the tomb to weep there; but they saw her go to meet Jesus and fall at
His feet saying, as Martha did,

"Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."