John 11
Lazarus is ill
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When 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. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus 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. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These 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. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
Word reaches Jesus that his friend Lazarus of Bethany, brother of Mary and Martha, is ill; Jesus says the illness is for God's glory, yet waits two more days. Then he tells the disciples that Lazarus has "fallen asleep" and, when they misunderstand, says plainly that he is dead. Thomas urges the others to go with Jesus and die with him.
What does this mean?
"Sleep" was a common way of speaking about death. "Didymus" means "twin" in Greek, as Thomas does in Aramaic. "Twelve hours in the day" means daylight lasts long enough for the work given.
Historical context
Bethany was a village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, close to Jerusalem. The disciples' fear is reasonable: the authorities there had just tried to stone Jesus (10:31). Verse 2 refers ahead to Mary's anointing of Jesus, told in 12:1-8.
Why does it matter?
Jesus' delay is deliberate and puzzling, and the narrator stresses that he loved the family. The story is the longest of John's signs and the turning point of the Gospel: it brings Jesus back near Jerusalem and triggers the decision to kill him.
Editorial notes, not scripture.