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Scripture Story Sketch Notes · John 11:1–46

Raising
Lazarus

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25

A message of love, two days of waiting, two grieving sisters, a Savior who weeps, a heavy stone, and a voice that calls a friend out of the tomb. Walk to Bethany, look closer, and hear Him say, “Come forth.”

Walk to Bethany ↓ Read John 11 first
Hand-drawn doodle map of hills to the village of Bethany: a messenger running with news, a figure of soft light waiting by a river with disciples, Martha meeting Him on the road, the figure of light weeping with mourners, men rolling a stone from a cave tomb, Lazarus coming out wrapped in white cloth, and friends unwrapping him.

Before you begin

The story in brief

Martha and Mary sent word to Jesus: “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.” Jesus waited two more days, then went to Bethany. By the time He arrived, Lazarus had been in the tomb four days. Martha met Him: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection, and the life,” and she testified that He is the Christ.

When He saw Mary and the others weeping, “Jesus wept.” At the cave He said, “Take ye away the stone,” thanked His Father, and cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” Lazarus came out wrapped in graveclothes, and Jesus said, “Loose him, and let him go.” Many who saw it believed on Him.

Who’s who

  • Jesus: the resurrection and the life
  • Martha and Mary: His grieving friends
  • Lazarus: their brother, whom He loved

Where and when

Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, and a cave tomb.

Watch for the Savior

Listen for what Martha knew, even in her grief.

Read it yourself: John 11:1–46

Part 1 of 7

The road, mapped

Eight stops from the message to the open tomb. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.

    Part 2 of 7

    The story, plainly

    Four scenes: Martha on the road, the weeping, the stone, and the voice. Look for the Savior in each one.

    Read it plainly

    The words that trip people up

    Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1

    1. John 11:6 “he two days still”
    2. John 11:33 “he in the spirit”
    3. John 11:39 “by this time he ”
    4. John 11:44 “bound … with ”
    5. John 11:44 “bound about with a ”

    Part 3 of 7

    Look closer

    Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from prophets. Each card says which.

    0 of 9 turned

    Part 4 of 7

    Where are you at Bethany?

    People at Bethany were waiting, grieving, holding on to faith, or ready to help. Which feels most like you right now?

    Try it

    Take away the stone

    Jesus asked the people to do their part. Press and hold the button, and keep holding, to roll the stone away. As it moves, His words appear, line by line. Let go and it waits for you.

    “Take ye away the stone.” John 11:39

    Part 5 of 7

    Their world, their words

    A little background helps us see why “four days” mattered so much. Outside sources are labeled.

    Seventy · Bassett

    Why four days

    Elder Bassett: “According to some rabbinic schools of thought, it was believed that the spirit of someone who died would remain with the body for three days, offering hope that life was still possible.”3

    By the fourth day, everyone believed it was too late.

    Apostle · Talmage

    Martha’s faith

    Elder Talmage on Martha’s words: “It was an expression of anguish combined with faith.”4

    She was honest and faithful at the same time.

    Apostle · Talmage

    A cave tomb

    Elder Talmage: “Such burial-places were common in that country, natural caves or vaults hewn in the solid rock being used as sepulchres.”4

    A heavy stone closed the door.

    Apostle · Talmage

    Our part

    Elder Talmage: “In no instance do we find that Christ used unnecessarily the superhuman powers of His Godship.”4

    He left people the work they could do.

    Word study · Greek

    dakruó δακρύω · “wept” (John 11:35)

    Bible Hub: “To weep, to shed tears.”5 Outside · lexicon

    The shortest verse in the King James Bible shows how deeply He felt: “Jesus wept.”1

    What the text does not say

    John does not tell us what Lazarus saw or said during those four days. He keeps the focus on Jesus: “I am the resurrection, and the life.”2

    Part 6 of 7

    Look to Him

    He came. He wept. He called His friend by name. He is the resurrection and the life.

    Elder W. Mark Bassett: “As we move forward with faith in Jesus Christ, the fourth day will always come. He will always come to our aid.”

    Elder W. Mark Bassett, “After the Fourth Day,” April 20233
    “Sometimes during our own challenges, we might feel like Christ is too late, and our hope and faith might even feel challenged.”
    Elder W. Mark Bassett3
    “Then said Jesus in words of assuring tenderness: ‘Thy brother shall rise again.’”
    Elder James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ4
    “He who could reunite spirit and body could have loosened without hands the cerements by which the reanimated Lazarus was bound.”
    Elder James E. Talmage4

    John

    Martha’s witness

    “Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” John 11:27

    John

    For your sakes

    “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.” John 11:15

    Part 7 of 7

    Seek Him today

    His question

    “Believest thou this?” John 11:26

    Martha answered, “Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.”2 How would you answer Him today?

    Try it today

    One way to trust His timing a day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.

    0 of 7 today

    This week:0 of 7 days

    A quiet moment

    “I am the resurrection, and the life.”

    Read John 11:20–27 slowly. Then sit in quiet and ask Heavenly Father to help you trust His Son’s timing, and listen. John 11:20–27

    A verse to hold

    Talk about it

    1. Why do you think Jesus waited two days before going to Bethany?
    2. What did Martha say she knew, even in her grief?
    3. Why do you think Jesus wept, when He knew He would raise Lazarus?
    4. Why did He ask the people to move the stone and loosen the graveclothes?
    Open

    For adults and deeper study

    Go deeper

    Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
    Seventy

    Elder W. Mark Bassett, “After the Fourth Day” (2023)

    Why four days mattered, why help can seem late, and what the stone, the voice and the graveclothes teach about our part in miracles.3

    Read the talk →
    Apostle

    Elder Talmage, Jesus the Christ, chapter 28

    Martha and Mary, the cave tomb, “Lazarus Restored to Life,” and the leaders’ response that followed.4

    Read chapter 28 →
    Scripture

    John 11:45–57 and John 12:1–11

    Many believed, the leaders plotted, and Lazarus sat at supper with Jesus at Bethany.1

    Read John 11 →   Read John 12 →
    Outside · lexicon

    The Greek word for “wept”

    Dakruó, “to weep, to shed tears,” the word used in John 11:35.5 Strong’s 1145 →
    To ponder

    Harder questions

    • When has the Savior’s help seemed to come on “the fourth day” in your life?
    • Martha said, “But I know, that even now.” What do you know “even now”?
    • Jesus asked others to move the stone and loose Lazarus. What part might He be asking you to do?

    Sources

    Every quotation, gloss, and piece of background on this page is listed here: scripture first, then Church sources, then outside scholarship (labeled).

    Scripture

    1. John 11:1–46: “I am the resurrection, and the life.”
    2. John 11:25–27: “Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.”

    Church leaders and Church resources

    1. Elder W. Mark Bassett, “After the Fourth Day”, general conference, April 2023.
    2. Elder James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, chapter 28, “The Last Winter”, Gospel Library.

    Outside sources (labeled on the page)

    1. Strong’s 1145, dakruó, Bible Hub lexicon.

    Quotations checked against the linked pages on October 7, 2026. Scripture is quoted from the King James Version as published in the Gospel Library.

    “The resurrection, and the life”

    It is never too late for Him. He weeps with you, and He calls you by name. Come forth. John 11:25

    Back to this week: April 26–May 2 Next story: The Rich Young Ruler Earlier: The Prodigal Son All New Testament Story Sketch Notes
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    Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. This story is told in John’s own words; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.