1 NOW a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, [ Lazarus was more than some nameless blind man, he was loved by Jesus according to scripture. He and his sisters, Martha and Mary, were very good friends of Jesus. "Lazarus", the Hebrew version of this name is "Eleazar" and means "God helps" or "Helped of God".] of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord [could be translated "Who had formerly anointed". With this we have a foundation of how Jesus knew Mary and Lazarus. ] with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. [ How is this plea so powerful? Note the simplicity of this phrase- whom thou lovest is sick. No begging, no asking for favour to cast out the desease. No just a simple plea since we know you love him we know you will come and do what ever is your will.]

4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, [It is very likely that this verse contains the message which Christ sent back, by the person whom the afflicted sisters had sent to him; and this, no doubt, served much to strengthen their confidence, though their faith must have been greatly exercised by the death of their brother: for when this took place, though they buried him, yet they believed, even then, probably on the ground of this message, that Jesus might raise him from the dead.] but for the glory of God, [ What is Jesus trying to say here? while Jesus may be speaking figuratively of "death" and be saying "this [physical] sickness is not unto [spiritual] death" as he clearly is in v. 26, the statement can also be taken literally as Jesus revives Lazarus from physical death."The restoration of physical life is a sign of eternal life. It will glorify God in that it will bring Jesus' death, which is part of the atonement." ] that the son of God [ A statement of who he really was. He is not the son of Joseph. He is not the son of a man. This title the son Of God means that his Father is literally God our Father in Heaven. ] might be glorified thereby.

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. [ so if he really loved them why did he not drop everything and go to them - they really needed him right then? Did they receive anything greater (greater blessings) from him delaying? Did their testimonies become stronger when he was healed? Did they learn anything from those trials? ]

6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. [Upon hearing the news of Lazarus' death Jesus found himself some 25 miles from Bethany, a two day journey at best, and yet he did not drop everything (I suppose there is a story there as well, but we will leave that for another time). Jesus spent two more days completing the work there including: A healing on the sabbath, taught at least two sermons, and 8 parables including the parable of the prodigal son all before he left on the journey back to Bethany and the house of Lazarus.]

7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? [ Are you kidding me - the Jews have already tried to kill you why go back and risk that they will succeed? ]

9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? [ What is the Lord trying to explain here? Though it is the eleventh hour of my life, I have been sent here on a mission. so I must go and do that which the Father called me to do. I can't wait to help those that need it when my life is in danger - I must do it when it is the right time - Lazarus needs me now. Jesus knows full well that this one act alone will pretty much seal his fate - and yet he goes. We see that in John 12:10 as they even tried to kill Lazarus because he was healed by the Savior and seeing him reminded people of the power which Jesus held.

The Jews, and many other nations, divided the day, from sun-rising to sun-setting, into twelve equal parts; but these parts, or hours, were longer or shorter, according to the different seasons of the year. Alluding to the case of a traveler, who has to walk the whole day: the day points out the time of life-the night that of death. He has already used the same mode of speech, chap. ix. i5: I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work. Here he refers to what the apostles had just said-The Jews were but just now going to stone thee. Are there not, said he, twelve hours in the day? I have not traveled these twelve hours yet-my last hour is not yet come; and the Jews, with all their malice and hatred, shall not be able to bring it a moment sooner than God has purposed. I am immortal till my work is done; and this, that I am now going to Bethany to perform, is a part of it. Then when all is completed, then their hour, and that of the power of darkness, shall commence.] If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. [ The words en autw, refer not to the man, but to the world, the sun, its light, not being above the horizon. And who is the light of this world that he see's? What has the light of the world asked us to do? To help others, to do good.]

10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. [ Those who do evil always ultimately fail in their efforts because their thoughts and desires are intrinsically corrupt. They are abandoned by God and left to their own arm of flesh machinations, and thus they stumble and fall, cp. Isa. 50:10-11, Jer. 13:16. All of the assassination attempts previous to this have failed as Jesus has not permitted them to succeed. Now, the time has come, and he will permit them to succeed. ]

11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; [ How does Jesus know that he is dead? No one has told him? Though the word sleep frequently meant death, (see Acts vii. 60; 1 Cor. xi. 30; xv. 18, 20,). It was very common among the Jews to express death by sleep; and the expression, falling asleep-sleeping with their fathers, &c., were in great use among them. The Hebrews probably used this form of speech to signify their belief in the immortality of the soul, and the resurrection of the body. ] but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. [ The savior, is teaching us that death is noting more than sleep. To him who has all the power, the divine creator. ]

12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. [The disciples had missed the meaning (see verse 13) of what Jesus was saying. Sleep is a known remedy for whatever ails you so - for them to respond the sleep will do him good, and since he is sleeping then there is no need to go wake him and risk your life in the process.]

13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. [ Again who told the Savior that Lazarus had died? He knew the way he knows all things. ]

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; [ What is the message from the Savior here? I am glad that I was not there for if I was I would have healed him from his illiness. Jesus had waited until this point to return and raise Lazarus from the dead, the nature of this divine act would bear testimony in a way that could not be refuted. Testimony that he was in fact the Messiah, the son of God. He was setting the stage, so as to dramatize for all time one of his greatest teachings; That he was the resurrection and the life, that immortality and eternal life came by him and through him. ] nevertheless let us go unto him.

16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, [ both names meaning "twin" in Aramaic and Greek respectively ] unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. [ Or since we are not going to change his mind, and we are pretty sure what the Jews want to do to him of he returns to Jerusalem; so we might as well be with him in death as well. Kind of acceptig of the outcome and strong possibilities. ]

17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days [ John's account describes Lazarus' burial as a typical Jewish burial. Wrapped in linen strips, the body of Lazarus was buried the same day he died. His tomb - a cave, was sealed with a stone. His sisters, Martha and Mary had began the customary 30 days of mourning at home. During this time it was customary to receive condolences from their friends and neighbors. Since Bethany was only about two miles from Jerusalem it made it convenient for many to come from the big city and visit. Jesus had rasied the dead at least twice before. This time was different though. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead four days. This is the point, according Jewish tradition, that the spirit had left the body, and at that point decomposition had set in. It was believed that at this point that no trace of the soul remained in the body, there was simply no way to return.] already.

18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: [ Since Bethany was only about two miles from Jerusalem it made it convenient for many to come from the big city and visit. Ait takes about 7.5 furlongs to make a mile. ]

19 And many of the Jews came [ Since Bethany was so close to Jerusalem, many friends and relatives would come. Jewish custom, would require that they mourn with the afflicted sisters. Mourning, among the Jews, lasted about thirty days: the three first days were termed days of weeping: then followed seven of lamentation. During the three days, the mourner did no servile work; and, if any one saluted him, he did not return the salutation. During the seven days, he did no servile work, except in private-lay with his bed on the floor-did not put on his sandals-did not wash nor anoint himself-had his head covered-and neither read in the law, the Mishnah, nor the Talmud. All the thirty days he continued unshaven, wore no white or new clothes, and did not sew up the rents which he had made in his garments. ] to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. [ as was part pf the custom - to sit still, become immovable, as a way of demonstarting sorrow. ]

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. [ In other words you could have healed him while he was yet sick, or raised him from the dead just shortly after death. Sje repeats the same thing to Jesus in verse 32.. Does she place a limit on her faith with this statement? She has enough faith that he could have cured his illness - but he is really dead - she is putting a limit on her faith. What other things is she assuming about the Savior? 1) That he did not know that Lazarus was dead before Jesus got there - and we know that he did know. 2) That Jesus certainly had the power to heal him or raise him from the dead even though he was not present. How do we put limits on the Saviors power in our lives.?]

22 But I know, that even now, [ Npt outright asking the Lord to raise her brother from the dead, but intimating that if he would ask God - God would grant Jesus the miracle. The idea is that he is a prophet, that he has a special link with God - not an evidence that she knows who he really is - Gods son. ] whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. [ Note that the Savior makes a firm statement - that Lazarus shakk rise again. How does Martha take that statement? ]

24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. [ Martha says yes I understand at the last day he will be resurrected and I believe that, but if you would have just been here I would not have had to wait. ]

25 Jesus said unto her, I am [ One of the names used by the savior to declare who he was, and his mission. This bold declaration was given to the religious leaders of his day. "Verily , verily I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58) In so doing he, announced firmly to the nation of the Jews that he was the very same person who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. The same God who labors in behalf of Israel, who will fulfill every assignment given him, and that he un-changable "from eternity to eternity" (D&C 76:4) even "Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I AM, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins"(D&C 29:1);] the resurrection, [ What is resurrection? It is not coming to life from death as did Lazarus; it is not ascending to heaven with out tasting death as did Elijah; it is not continuing to live on earth for thousands of years as do John and the three Nephites. It is to rise from mortality to immortality, from corruption to incorruption, to have body and spirit reunite in an inseparable connection so that they can never again be torn apart. The resurrection is possible because of two events: 1 The fall of Adam; and 2) The redemptive sacrifice of the son of God. We are taught in 1 Cor 15:22 "As in Adam all die; even so in Christ shall all be made alive" ] and the life: [ what kind of life? Through the atonement comes the promise that we can have an eternal life, a life were we can live personally in the presence of God. A life which is available to all who are obedient to his commandments.. John 14: 6 6... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.] he that believeth in me, [ We must believe in Jesus Christ; which means to have faith in, confidence in him, trust him and we show that by being obedient to his will. 3 Ne. 11: 35 35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. If we believe in him whar is possible? everything of coarse - so if we believe in him what is it any easier for him to raise Lazarus in the resurrection than it is right now - today? so what is the message for use here? ] though he were dead, [ Adams fall brought mortality for all of us, to this world, meaning that we could come here, receive a body of flesh and blood and be subject to the laws of mortality, part of that law is that some day we will all face temporal or natural death.The awful terror of death is vanquished by the power of Christ's redeeming sacrifice, a supreme sacrifice by the son of God that would break the bands of mortality and replace them with immortality, that we will all live again. How is that possible we say? I suppose that we cannot really understand all of the ramifications in this existence, but Nephi helps give us some clues in 1 Ne 11:16,26 Nephi was taught of the condenscsion of God by an angel. Which is first that our father in Heaven descended from heaven to produce a son, that Jesus is literally his son, his offspring, the fruit of his body, and as a result Jesus Christ the son of God inherited the power of immortality, the power to live forever unending and eternal, the power to unit the body and the spirit again in a resurrected state, Christ voluntary permitted his body and spirit to be separated as an essential part of working out the infinite and eternal atonement. His purpose was to redeem mankind from their sins and provide a way that they (we) might return to live with our father in heaven again someday. His mission was to live a pure and faultless life in mortality, then subject his will entirely to the will of the Father as had been outlined in the grand council in heaven. As we desire to be like him we too will have to completely submit our will to the will of out FATHER IN HEAVEN. And so Christ's final act in mortality, the one that required that he lay his life down, wherein he opened the doors of immoralility - by taking his life up again after three days in the tomb.] yet shall he live: [ The saviors words were "After three days I will rise again." On the first day of the week, Sunday, the Lords Day. Hearing the news that the saviors body is gon Peter and John fear the worst; that wicked men must have stolen the body. They race to the tomb, John who is younger and more fleet a foot arrives first, stoops down, looks in, but does not enter, hesitating as it were to desecrate the sacred spot. Peter, impetuous, bold and dynamic rushes in. John follows. Together they witness the linen strips used to bind the graven body. They are not undone, the resurrected body has passed through them. What they had not before know was confirmed to them, It is true! It is the third day and He is risen.
And how do we know that he lives?
From the Testimonies of those who have seen the savior. To Mary near the sepulcher, to Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus, To Peter in or near Jerusalem, to Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Thomas, and others of the apostles at Jerusalem, at the Sea of Tiberius, and on a mountain in Galilee to the group of 500 near Galilee, and once again at the time of his ascension on the Mount of Olives to his eleven apostles.
From the multitude of Nephites who bore this testament of the resurrected Lord:
15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.
16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:
17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him. 3 Ne 11
From the prophet Joseph Smith and ...
24" And now after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony. Last of all which we [Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon] give of him: that he lives!
23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard a voice bearing record that he is the Only begotten of the Father" D&C 76:24,25
From the modern day prophet and quorum of twelve apostles ...
"We bear testimony, as His duly ordained ApostlesÑthat Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal son of God"
"He rose from the grave to "become the first fruits of them that slept" (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His "other sheep" (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised "dispensation of the fullness of times" (Ephesians 1:10)"
"He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. "
THE FIRST PRESIDENCY & THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE ]

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe [ pepisteuka, I have believed. Either meaning that she had believed this for some time past, or that, since he began to teach her, her faith had been considerable increased; but verbs preter, in Greek, are often used to signify the present. Martha here acknowledges Christ for the Messiah promised to their fathers; but her faith goes no farther; and, having received some hope of her brother's present resurrection, she waited for no farther instruction, but ran to call her sister. ] that thou art the Christ, the son of God, which should come into the world.

28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. [ Note the master teacher once again. First he is goung to strengthen the faith of Maryl he is gpong tp teach her - so that when he perfprms this miracle she will have a better understanding, she will better understand who he is, his mission. Line upon line. ]

29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, [The burial places were on the outskirts of the city walls.] but was in that place where Martha met him. [ So Marry meets the Savior some place close then to where Lazarus is buried. ]

31 The 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. [The tradition was for the nearest relative to go to the tomb during the period known as the three days of weeping. The idea was to watch the deceased face. This was a period of hope - for some had come back during the three day period. Watching the face was the sign - on about the third day the face would sink and all hope for return was past.]

32 Then 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.

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, [ What does this show about the Savior? He has the feelings of man, his heart was soft, he morned with those that morned, he was compassioniate. He could not see those he loved hurting so and not hurt himself. Do you suppose any of that hurt came for the fact that they did not fully believe in him? So we hurt the Savior by not fully believeing in him? ]

34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

35 Jesus wept. [ He has the emotions of a human, he cares, he feels - even with all of that power he has feeling. So if the Savior can weep why can't we? What is he weeping for? ]

36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! [ Is his love for Lazarus any different than his love for us? ]

37 And 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? [To the Jews this was a sign of weakness, a sign that he really did not have the power to do waht a God could - so the mocked him. "If he loved him so well, why did he not heal him? And if he could have healed him, why did he not do it, seeing he testifies so much sorrow at his death? ]

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. [ Why does the Savior not just use the priesthood to remove the stone as well? Note that Jesus has the power to remove the stone using the same power as he will raise the dead. But he asks the men around to remove the stone. Teaching that in the divine economy; the Lord will never do for someone what can be done by themselves - or what others can do for them. Symbolic - Taketh away the stone or remove it. By so doing you will see that he is indeed dead. This is done as a form of saying see for you own eyes that he is dead - tyi can both see and smell the death. ] Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? [ IS faith - enough of it all that is required? What about agency? Foreordination? Go's plan or will? Does real faith occur without it being in line with God's plan? Just as it was here - The Savior said up front I do this - or this will be done to show the Glory of God. In otherwords; he was planning (His will) was to raise Lazarys from the dead since the beginning - that is in part why he waited until the fourth day. ]

41 Then 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.

42 And 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.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. [ Remember what Jesus promised to do in verse 25? The time was coming in which the dead would hear his voice and come forth. Now he becons Lazarus who is dead to come forth. Fulfilling his own prophecy - literally. ]

44 And he that was dead came forth, [ Jesus had already raised two people from the dead (Mark 5:22–24, 35–43; Luke 7:11–17). How was raising Lazarus from the dead different from the two previous instances? (The daughter of Jairus and the son of the widow of Nain were raised from the dead soon after their body and spirit had separated. They had not been placed in tombs. Lazarus had been dead for four days, and his body was already in a sepulchre.)] 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. [ Invites the disciples to participate and be part of the miracle ]

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

46 But 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. [ This last miracle was so clear, plain, and incontestable, that they were driven now to their wit's end. Their own spies had come and borne testimony of it. Even Christ fought against the traditions of the Pharisees. After Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, many of the Jews began to believe in Him on the spot. He was becoming more popular. The Chief priests and the Pharisees gathered in council and wondered what would happen to them and their station in the community if Jesus was allowed to continue teaching his doctrines and exhibiting more power than their traditions (John 11:45-48). This directly led to the chief priests conspiring to do away with Christ because they saw that their traditions were in danger of being no longer believed, which would eliminate their power or authority within Jerusalem. The Terrible Question you are really asking is: How do you teach people who really do not want to know? You can’t, and you don’t. The sins of Israel are the sins of Israel in every generation and in every dispensation. A problem during one era was no doubt a problem in the previous era and remains a problem in the next era. That's what both the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon shows us. D&C 20:9 tells us that the Book of Mormon is a record of a fallen people. The Old Testament is also a record of a fallen people. The Book of Mormon is about a Promised Land. The Old Testament is also about a Promised Land for the Children of Israel. The Book of Mormon contains the deed restrictions for this Promised Land, and the Old Testament contains the deed restrictions for that Promised Land. Both books show us that if the people do not keep the deed restrictions for their respective Promised Lands, they will fall into captivity. All scripture is a record of a fallen people because the sins of Israel are the sins of Israel in every generation and in every dispensation. Israel is defined as those who know and understand the Gospel. Christ says in the book of Mormon that those who do not accept the Gospel are not His (3 Ne 14:24, 26; 15:1). ]

48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. [ Or they are worried about their own position more than anything else. If we permit him to work but a few more miracles like these two last (the cure of the blind man, and the resurrection of Lazarus) he will be universally acknowledged for the Messiah; the people will proclaim him king; and the Romans, who can suffer no government here but their own, will be so irritated that they will send their armies against us, and destroy our temple, and utterly dissolve our civil and ecclesiastical existence. Thus, under the pretense of the public good, these men of blood hide their hatred against Christ, and resolve to put him to death. To get the people on their side, they must give the alarm of destruction to the nation: if this man be permitted to live, we shall be all destroyed! Their former weapons will not now avail. On the subject of keeping the Sabbath, they had been already confounded; and his last miracles were so incontestable that they could no longer cry out, He is a deceiver. ]

49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. [ Or It’s the time of the year for a substitute sacrifice. In saying these remarkable words, Caiaphas had no other intention than merely to state that it was better to put Jesus to death than to expose the whole nation to ruin on his account. His maxim was, it is better to sacrifice one man than a whole nation. ]

51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

54 Jesus 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.

56 Then 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?

57 Now 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.