Meet Jesus

Lazarus: When You Are Grieving

Jesus loved Lazarus, and Lazarus died. When Jesus reached the grave and saw the sisters weeping, he wept too, even knowing what he was about to do. He did not stand above the grief. He entered it. Then he called Lazarus out of the tomb by name, and death let go. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life.

If this is you

If you are standing in loss right now, if the person you would call is the one who is gone, this story does not rush you past the pain. It shows Jesus crying at a graveside, moved by the same grief you feel. He does not treat death lightly, and he does not treat your tears lightly either.

The story

Lazarus, whom Jesus loved, fell sick and died. By the time Jesus arrived, he had been in the tomb four days. Martha and Mary, his sisters, were grieving. Jesus spoke with Martha, then came to the grave and saw everyone weeping.

What this shows about Jesus

The shortest verse in the Bible is here: Jesus wept. He was minutes from raising Lazarus, and still he cried. Grief is not a failure of faith, and Jesus honors it by sharing it. But he is also more than a fellow mourner. He speaks to the grave and it obeys. For those who trust him, death is real, and it is also not the end of the story.

Frequently asked questions

What is the story of Lazarus?

Lazarus was a friend of Jesus who died. Jesus arrived four days after the burial, wept at the grave, and then called Lazarus out of the tomb alive (John 11), declaring, 'I am the resurrection, and the life.'

Why did Jesus weep if he was going to raise Lazarus?

The Gospel shows Jesus genuinely moved by grief and love, weeping with the mourners even though he knew what he would do (John 11:35). It shows that he shares our sorrow rather than dismissing it.

What does the raising of Lazarus mean for those who grieve?

It shows Jesus both entering grief and holding power over death. For those who trust him, death is not the final word (John 11:25-26). You can read the whole account in John chapter 11.