“Did Jesus really raise Lazarus from the dead?” That question came up during a late-night conversation I had with a close friend who was going through a painful season of loss. I remembered John 11 - not as a distant Bible story, but as a real moment that spoke directly to our grief.

The story of Lazarus is one of the most profound miracles recorded in the Gospel of John. Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had fallen ill. Despite their urgent plea, Jesus delayed His arrival, allowing death to take its course. But this delay was not neglect, it was intentional. When He finally arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. In the presence of grieving friends and onlookers, Jesus wept, prayed to the Father, and then called out with divine authority: “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43). And the dead man obeyed.

Through this chapter (John 11), we are invited to believe not only in the miracle but in the One who performs it. Yes, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead—and through this act, He reveals the heart of the Gospel: that through Him, all who believe may have life everlasting.

Whether you’re reading this with curiosity, skepticism, or quiet desperation, the miracle of Lazarus echoes through time with hope. Read below the full chapter and its explanation.