In Bethany, a small village near Jerusalem, there lived three very special siblings: Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. They were dear friends of Jesus.

Whenever Jesus passed through Bethany, he visited their house. Martha prepared delicious food, Mary sat at Jesus' feet to hear him teach, and Lazarus talked with him like a close friend. Jesus loved that family, and their home was a place of rest and joy for him.

But one day, something sad happened: Lazarus became very ill. Martha and Mary cared for him tenderly, but he only grew worse. Worried, they sent a message to Jesus:

It was a simple message, but full of faith. They did not say "come quickly". They simply told him that his friend was sick, trusting that Jesus would know what to do.

When Jesus heard the news, he said:

Jesus knew what was going to happen. But then he did something strange: he stayed two more days where he was, without leaving for Bethany. Why did he wait, when he loved Lazarus so much? Because God had a plan greater than simply healing an illness. Jesus was going to do something extraordinary, something that would show his power over death itself.

After two days, Jesus said to his disciples:

"Let us go into Judea again."

The disciples were worried, for only a short time before, the people there had tried to stone Jesus. But he was determined, and he explained:

"Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go to wake him."

The disciples thought he meant ordinary sleep, and answered that if Lazarus was sleeping, he would soon get well. Then Jesus told them plainly:

Lazarus was dead, and Jesus said he was glad? It sounds strange. But Jesus was glad because he knew he was going to show God's power in a way no one had ever seen, and that this would strengthen the disciples' faith.

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Many people had come from Jerusalem to comfort Martha and Mary, and the house was full of mourners.

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him. Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus:

Even in her sorrow, Martha had faith. She believed Jesus could still do something.

Jesus said to her:

"Your brother will rise again."

"I know he will rise again in the resurrection, at the last day," Martha answered, thinking of the end of time.

But Jesus meant something far greater. Then he spoke words that would never be forgotten:

Martha answered with a beautiful confession of faith:

Martha went to call Mary and said quietly:

"The Master is here, and he is calling for you."

Mary got up quickly and went to Jesus. When she saw him, she fell at his feet, repeating her sister's words: if Jesus had been there, their brother would not have died. She was weeping, and everyone with her was weeping too.

When Jesus saw Mary crying, and those who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved.

It is the shortest verse in the Bible, and one of the most beautiful. Jesus knew he was about to raise Lazarus. He knew that joy was only moments away. Even so, he cried with his friends, sharing their sorrow, slowly, without hurry. The heart of Jesus cares about our pain.

Jesus asked where they had laid Lazarus, and they led him to the tomb: a cave, closed with a stone across the entrance.

"Take away the stone," Jesus said.

Martha, always practical, warned him:

"Lord, by now there is a bad smell, for he has been there four days."

In that culture, people believed that after four days there was no doubt left at all: the person was truly dead. But Jesus said to her:

They took away the stone. Jesus lifted his eyes and prayed aloud, thanking the Father for always hearing him, so that everyone would know this was happening by the power of God.

And then, with a loud voice, Jesus cried:

Everyone stood silent, waiting. And then there was movement at the mouth of the cave. Someone was coming out of the tomb.

It was Lazarus. He was alive. His hands and feet were still wrapped in burial cloths, and his face was covered with a cloth, but he was walking, breathing, living.

Jesus said:

"Unbind him, and let him go."

The sisters ran to embrace Lazarus, and their tears of sorrow turned into tears of joy. Mourning became celebration, because death had been conquered by life.

Many of those who had come to comfort Mary, when they saw what Jesus did, believed in him. Jesus had shown that he has power over death, and that he truly is the resurrection and the life.

This miracle pointed to something even greater: Jesus' own resurrection. Lazarus came back to life, but one day, later on, he would die again. When Jesus rose, he conquered death forever. And because he conquered it, all who believe in him will also rise one day. For those who belong to Jesus, death is not the end.

The raising of Lazarus fills us with hope. Jesus has power over death, and nothing is impossible for him.