Opening Prayer

Dear Jesus, you are stronger than anything — even death. Open our ears to hear your voice today. Amen.

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Jesus had a friend named Lazarus, who lived in the town of Bethany with his two sisters, Martha and Mary. One day Lazarus got very sick, and his sisters sent word to Jesus: “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

But Jesus didn’t come right away. He waited two whole days. By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead and buried in a tomb for four days.

Martha ran out to meet Jesus. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” she said.

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die.”

Then Mary came too, weeping. And when Jesus saw her crying, and all the people crying with her — something surprising happened. Jesus didn’t just feel sad. The Bible says he was deeply moved — a word that really means he was angry. Not angry at the people. Angry at death itself. Angry at what death does to the people he loves.

Then Jesus wept.

They came to the tomb — a cave with a big stone in front of it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha said, “But Lord, he’s been dead four days. It will smell terrible!” Jesus said, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

So they rolled the stone away. Jesus prayed to his Father. And then, in a loud voice, he called out: “Lazarus, come out!”

And Lazarus came out — still wrapped in his burial cloths. Jesus told the people, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

What This Means

Have you ever been really angry about something that was unfair? Maybe someone hurt your little brother or sister, and you didn’t feel sad — you felt mad. You wanted to do something about it.

That’s what Jesus felt at Lazarus’s tomb. Death had taken his friend. Death was making the people he loved cry. And Jesus didn’t just stand there feeling sorry. He was furious — and he did something about it.

See, death is not supposed to be here. When God made the world, there was no death. Death is an intruder — like a thief who broke into a house that doesn’t belong to him. And Jesus came to kick the thief out.

When Jesus shouted “Lazarus, come out!” — that wasn’t just a regular voice. That was the same voice that made the stars and the oceans. When God speaks, things happen. He said “Let there be light,” and there was light. He said “Come out,” and a dead man walked out of his grave.

Here’s the amazing part: Jesus does the same thing for you. In your baptism, he spoke your name. He called you out of darkness into his family. And one day, when he comes back, he will call every person who belongs to him out of their graves — just like he called Lazarus. Not because we’re strong enough. Because his voice is.

Let’s Talk About It

Eberley: Jesus waited two days before going to Lazarus, even though he loved him. Why do you think Jesus let things get worse before he acted? What does that teach us about how God’s timing works — especially when it doesn’t match what we want?

Eberley: Martha believed in the resurrection “at the last day,” but she still didn’t want to open the tomb. What’s the difference between believing something in your head and trusting it when it’s right in front of you?

Sonja: When Jesus got to Bethany, Martha and Mary both said the same thing: “If you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” How do you think they were feeling? Have you ever wished Jesus would fix something faster?

Sonja: What did Jesus do before he raised Lazarus? He cried! Why do you think Jesus cried if he already knew he was about to bring Lazarus back to life?

Dahlia & Freddy: Was Jesus happy or angry when he saw that Lazarus had died? (Angry!) What did Jesus do about it? (He called Lazarus out of the grave!) Did Lazarus come out? (Yes!)

Remember This

When Jesus speaks, even dead people listen.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the resurrection and the life. When we are scared of death or sad about people we miss, remind us that your voice is stronger than any grave. Thank you that you called us by name in baptism, and that you will call us again on the last day. Amen.

Memory Verse

“I am the resurrection and the life.” — John 11:25