The Fifth Sunday of Lent: Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

John 11:1-45

In This Gospel

Jesus performs one of His greatest miracles. This Gospel speaks to the parts of our lives that feel heavy, buried, or hopeless. Jesus meets us there and calls us back to life.

Context

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were close friends of Jesus. Scripture shows that this was a real relationship marked by love, familiarity, and trust. Jesus is not entering the grief of strangers. He is stepping into the suffering of people He knows well and loves deeply.

Jesus Meets Us in Our Grief

When Martha meets Jesus, she says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Her words are honest. They carry grief, disappointment, and faith all at once. She still comes to Jesus, even in her pain.

This part of the Gospel is important because it shows that grief does not disqualify us from faith. We do not need polished words to come before the Lord. We can bring Him sorrow, confusion, and unanswered questions. Jesus receives all of it.

“Jesus Wept”

This is the shortest verse in Scripture, yet it reveals something profound about the heart of Christ. Jesus is fully God, and He is fully man. He knows He will raise Lazarus, yet He still weeps.

He does not stand at a distance from suffering. He enters into it. He shares the sorrow of Martha and Mary. He allows Himself to feel the weight of loss. This Gospel reminds us that Jesus does not rush past grief. He meets us within it.

Jesus Speaks Hope in the Middle of Grief

Before Lazarus is raised, Jesus tells Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.” He speaks hope before the miracle comes. He reveals that resurrection is not only something He does. It is who He is.

These words prepare the reader for what happens next, but they also point beyond Lazarus. They point to Jesus’ own death and resurrection. The one standing before Martha has power over death itself.

Jesus Calls His Friend Back to Life

After four days in the tomb, Jesus cries out, “Lazarus, come out!” He calls Lazarus by name. His love is personal. His call is personal. He does not speak vaguely. He speaks directly to the one He loves.

The same is true for us. Jesus knows us personally. He sees the places in us that feel shut down, buried, or numb. He still calls us toward life.

Some Parts of Us Can Feel Buried Too

Many people know what it feels like to carry grief, burnout, fear, shame, or exhaustion. A person can look functional on the outside and still feel buried on the inside. Parts of the heart can go quiet. Hope can feel distant. Energy can disappear. It can become difficult to imagine new life.

This Gospel speaks into those places. Jesus is not afraid of what feels painful, messy, or hard to face. He does not turn away from us when we feel stuck. He meets us there and still calls us forward.

We Are Not Meant to Carry Everything Alone

When Lazarus comes out of the tomb, he is still wrapped in burial cloths. Jesus tells the others, “Untie him and let him go.” The miracle is Christ’s work, but the community is still asked to help remove what remains.

That detail is easy to miss, but it says something important. Healing is not always meant to happen alone. God often works through friendship, support, accompaniment, wise counsel, and community. Sometimes freedom begins with prayer. Sometimes it also requires letting others help us take the next step.

Examen

• Who do we identify with most in this story?

• Lazarus, the one who feels buried and needs new life?

• Martha or Mary, the ones who are grieving and need comfort and support?

• Jesus, the one who keeps serving others, but may need to let himself feel sorrow too?

Closing Prayer

Dear Jesus, if we are buried, guide us back to life. If we are grieving, meet us with comfort. If we are tired from carrying others, teach us to make room for our own hearts too. Draw us closer to You, and lead us toward healing, freedom, and peace. Amen.