"Jesus Brings Lazarus Back to Life: A Story for Kids"

Imagine a close friend or family member has been very sick. Now, imagine you heard that Jesus, Yeshua, the person you believe is the son of God, has come to your town and he can make your loved one all better. You'd probably be very excited and want to tell everyone, right? This is what happened long ago in a town called Bethany.

The main character in this story is a man named Lazarus. He was very sick, so sick that he was about to die. Lazarus had two sisters, Mary and Martha. They loved their brother very much and wanted him to get well. They sent a message to Jesus, saying, "Lord, the one you love is sick." Jesus received their message but instead of going to Bethany right away, he stayed where he was for two more days.

Lazarus' Sickness and Death

While Jesus was away, Lazarus continued to get weaker. In fact, he got so sick that he died. Mary and Martha were very sad. The people in the town felt sorry for them too. Everyone knew how close Lazarus was to Jesus. They thought, "If Jesus could have come and healed Lazarus, he would have done it by now. Maybe Jesus didn't care as much as we thought he did."

Meanwhile, Jesus had something special planned. He said to his friends, "Lazarus isn't really dead. He's sleeping." His friends thought he meant Lazarus was just resting, but Jesus was using this word to mean that Lazarus would soon wake up again.

The Journey to Bethany

Finally, Jesus decided it was time to go to Bethany. He had waited two days on purpose. When they arrived, Martha ran out of the house as soon as she saw Jesus. She said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Martha said, "Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God."

While Martha was talking to Jesus, Mary stayed home, but she soon heard that Jesus was near. She ran to him too, and when she saw him, she fell at his feet, sobbing, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Jesus was very moved when he saw Mary and all the other people crying. He was so sad about Lazarus' death that he wept too.

Jesus Resurrects Lazarus

Then Jesus asked to see Lazarus' tomb. Martha warned him, "By now the body will have a bad smell, for it has been there four days." But Jesus told her, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" Jesus ordered that the stone covering the tomb be removed. Then he prayed, "Father, thank you for hearing me. I know you always hear me, but I said this prayer for the crowd here so they will believe that you sent me." After he finished praying, he called loudly, "Lazarus, come out!" And Lazarus did! He came out, wrapped in cloths, with a cloth around his face. Jesus told the people, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

This amazing miracle showed everyone that Jesus truly was the son of God. Many of the people who saw it believed in him, but some of the religious leaders thought Jesus' popularity was a threat. They started planning to arrest Jesus to stop him from causing more trouble.

Lazarus' Resurrection and its Impact

After Lazarus was raised from the dead, Jesus and his disciples didn't stay in Bethany for long. They went away to a town called Ephraim to avoid the religious leaders who were now looking for Jesus. However, news of Lazarus' resurrection quickly spread throughout the land, and many more people were drawn to Jesus because of this great miracle.

This event also led to a very important meeting. A man named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus one night. He wanted to learn more about Jesus and how he could become his follower. This conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus is what we read about in John 3, where Jesus teaches about being born again.

Lazarus' resurrection was a significant moment in Jesus' life and ministry. It demonstrated Jesus' power over death, making many people believe in him and come to know him as their savior.

The Reaction of the Jewish Leaders

The chief priests and Pharisees found out that many people were becoming Jesus' followers because of this miracle. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. They met together to figure out what to do, but their only idea was to kill Lazarus too. They thought if no one could talk about Lazarus' resurrection, no one would believe in Jesus. But Caiaphas, a leaders' spokesman, told them, "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." This was the first time the chief priests and Pharisees decided to kill Jesus.

Jesus knew they were planning to kill him, so he stopped going to Jerusalem for religious feasts. He left Judea and went to a town near the Jordan River, where John the Baptist had once preached. There, people were coming from everywhere to see Jesus and hear him teach. Many believed in him.

Remembering the power and love Jesus showed in Bethany, we can find comfort and hope knowing that he can overcome any challenge, even death itself. Just like he raised Lazarus, he offers us the chance for new life, too. So let's turn to him, believe in him, and experience the transforming power of his love in our own lives.