JOHANNES 11
Die dood van Lasarus
1 'n Man met die naam Lasarus was siek. Hy was van Betanië, die dorp waar Maria en haar suster Marta gewoon het. 2 Maria was die vrou wat met reukolie die Here gesalf en sy voete met haar hare afgedroog het. Dit was haar broer Lasarus wat siek was. 3 Die susters het iemand na Jesus toe gestuur om te sê: “Here, hy vir wie U lief is, is siek.”
4 Toe Jesus dit hoor, het Hy gesê: “Hierdie siekte sal nie op die dood uitloop nie, maar op die openbaring van die wonderbaarlike mag van God, sodat die Seun van God daardeur verheerlik kan word.”
5 Jesus het vir Marta en haar suster en Lasarus liefgehad. 6 Nadat Hy gehoor het dat Lasarus siek is, het Hy egter nog twee dae op die plek gebly waar Hy was. 7 Eers daarna het Hy vir sy dissipels gesê: “Kom ons gaan terug na Judea toe.”
8 Die dissipels sê toe vir Hom: “Rabbi, nou die dag nog wou die Jode U stenig, en gaan U weer daarheen?”
9 Jesus het geantwoord: “Is daar nie twaalf uur in 'n dag nie? As iemand in die dag loop, struikel hy nie, omdat hy die lig van hierdie wêreld sien. 10 Maar as iemand in die nag loop, struikel hy, omdat hy nie die lig het nie.”
11 Hierna het Hy vir hulle gesê: “Ons vriend Lasarus slaap, maar Ek gaan om hom wakker te maak.”
12 Die dissipels sê toe vir Hom: “Here, as hy slaap, sal hy gesond word.”
13 Jesus het van Lasarus se dood gepraat, maar hulle het gedink Hy praat van die gewone slaap. 14 Toe sê Jesus vir hulle reguit: “Lasarus is dood, 15 en om julle ontwil is Ek bly dat Ek nie daar was nie sodat julle in My kan glo. Maar kom ons gaan na hom toe.”
16 Tomas, wat ook Didimus genoem is, sê toe vir die ander dissipels: “Kom ons gaan ook, sodat ons saam met Hom kan sterwe.”
Jesus by Marta en Maria
17 Toe Jesus daar kom, het Hy gevind dat Lasarus al vier dae in die graf was.
18 Betanië was naby Jerusalem, omtrent drie kilometer; 19 en baie van die Jode het na Marta en Maria toe gekom om hulle oor hulle broer te troos.
20 Toe Marta hoor dat Jesus kom, het sy Hom tegemoet gegaan; maar Maria het in die huis bly sit. 21 Marta sê toe vir Jesus: “Here, as U hier was, sou my broer nie gesterwe het nie. 22 Maar selfs nou weet ek dat God U alles sal gee wat U van Hom vra.”
23 Jesus sê toe vir haar: “Jou broer sal uit die dood opstaan.”
24 Maar Marta sê vir Hom: “Ek weet hy sal met die opstanding op die laaste dag uit die dood opstaan.”
25 Toe sê Jesus vir haar: “Ek is die opstanding en die lewe. Wie in My glo, sal lewe, al sterwe hy ook; 26 en elkeen wat lewe en in My glo, sal in alle ewigheid nooit sterwe nie. Glo jy dit?”
27 “Ja, Here,” sê sy vir Hom, “ek glo vas dat U die Christus is, die Seun van God, die Een wat na die wêreld toe moes kom.”
28 Nadat sy dit gesê het, het sy haar suster Maria gaan roep en saggies vir haar gesê: “Ons Leermeester is hier, en Hy roep jou.”
29 Toe sy dit hoor, het sy gou opgestaan en na Hom toe gegaan. 30 Jesus het nog nie in die dorp aangekom nie, maar was nog op die plek waar Marta Hom ontmoet het. 31 Toe die Jode wat by Maria in die huis was en haar vertroos het, sien dat sy vinnig opstaan en uitgaan, het hulle agter haar aangegaan omdat hulle gedink het sy gaan na die graf toe om daar te huil. 32 Toe Maria daar aankom waar Jesus was en Hom sien, het sy by sy voete gekniel en vir Hom gesê: “Here, as U hier was, sou my broer nie gesterwe het nie.”
Jesus laat Lasarus uit die dood opstaan
33 Toe Jesus sien dat Maria huil en dat die Jode wat saam met haar gekom het, ook huil, het sy gemoed vol geskiet en was Hy aangedaan. 34 Hy vra toe: “Waar het julle hom begrawe?” Hulle het vir Hom gesê: “Here, kom kyk.”
35 Jesus het gehuil. 36 Die Jode sê toe: “Kyk hoe lief het hy hom gehad!”
37 Party van hulle het ook gesê: “Kon hy wat die oë van die blinde man genees het, nie ook gemaak het dat hierdie man nie sterwe nie?”
38 Jesus se gemoed het weer vol geskiet toe Hy by die graf kom. Dit was 'n rotsgraf, en daar was 'n klip voor die ingang gerol. 39 Jesus sê toe: “Rol die klip weg.” Maar Marta, die suster van die oorledene, sê vir Hom: “Here, hy ruik al, want dit is al die vierde dag.”
40 Jesus sê toe vir haar: “Het Ek nie vir jou gesê as jy glo, sal jy die openbaring van die wonderbaarlike mag van God sien nie?”
41 Hulle het toe die klip weggerol. Jesus het opgekyk boontoe en gesê: “Vader, Ek dank U dat U My verhoor het. 42 Ek weet dat U My altyd verhoor, maar Ek sê dit ter wille van die mense wat hier rondom staan, sodat hulle kan glo dat U My gestuur het.”
43 Nadat Hy dit gesê het, roep Hy met 'n harde stem: “Lasarus, kom uit!”
44 Die oorledene het uitgekom. Sy hande en sy voete was nog toegedraai met grafdoeke en sy gesig toegebind met 'n kopdoek. Jesus sê toe vir die mense: “Maak hom los dat hy kan huis toe gaan.”
Die Joodse Raad besluit om Jesus dood te maak
(Matt. 26:1-5; Mark. 14:1-2; Luk. 22:1-2)
45 Baie van die Jode wat na Maria toe gekom en gesien het wat Jesus gedoen het, het tot geloof in Hom gekom.
46 Maar party van hulle het na die Fariseërs toe gegaan en vir hulle vertel wat Jesus gedoen het. 47 Die priesterhoofde en die Fariseërs het toe die Joodse Raad bymekaargeroep en gesê: “Wat gaan ons doen? Hierdie man doen baie wondertekens. 48 As ons hom so laat aangaan, sal al die mense in hom glo, en dan kom verwoes die Romeine hierdie heilige plek en maak ons nasie tot niet.”
49 Een van hulle, 'n sekere Kajafas, wat daardie jaar hoëpriester was, het egter vir hulle gesê: “Julle verstaan niks, 50 en julle besef ook nie dat dit tot julle voordeel is dat een man vir die volk sterwe en nie die hele nasie verlore gaan nie.”
51 Dit het hy nie uit sy eie gesê nie, maar omdat hy daardie jaar hoëpriester was, het hy geprofeteer dat Jesus vir die nasie sou sterwe. 52 En Hy sou nie net vir die nasie sterwe nie, maar ook om die kinders van God wat oor die hele aarde versprei is, tot een volk bymekaar te bring.
53 Van daardie dag af was hulle vasbeslote om Jesus dood te maak. 54 Daarom het Jesus nie meer in die openbaar onder die Jode rondgegaan nie, maar daarvandaan weggegaan na die streek naby die woestyn, na 'n dorp met die naam Efraim. Daar het Hy met sy dissipels 'n rukkie gebly.
55 Die paasfees van die Jode was naby. Baie mense het voor die paasfees van die platteland af na Jerusalem toe gegaan om hulle te reinig. 56 Hulle het daar na Jesus gesoek en waar hulle in die tempel gestaan het, vir mekaar gesê: “Hoe dink julle? Hy sal seker nie fees toe kom nie, of hoe?”
57 Die priesterhoofde en die Fariseërs het toe al klaar opdrag gegee dat as iemand weet waar Hy is, hy dit moet aangee sodat hulle Hom gevange kan neem.
John 11
1 NOW A certain man named Lazarus was ill. He was of Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived.2 This Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was [now] sick.3 So the sisters sent to Him, saying, Lord, he whom You love [so well] is sick.4 When Jesus received the message, He said, This sickness is not to end in death; but [on the contrary] it is to honor God and to promote His glory, that the Son of God may be glorified through (by) it.5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [They were His dear friends, and He held them in loving esteem.]6 Therefore [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He still stayed two days longer in the same place where He was.7 Then after that interval He said to His disciples, Let us go back again to Judea.8 The disciples said to Him, Rabbi, the Jews only recently were intending and trying to stone You, and are You [thinking of] going back there again?9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? Anyone who walks about in the daytime does not stumble, because he sees [by] the light of this world.10 But if anyone walks about in the night, he does stumble, because there is no light in him [the light is lacking to him].11 He said these things, and then added, Our friend Lazarus is at rest and sleeping; but I am going there that I may awaken him out of his sleep.12 The disciples answered, Lord, if he is sleeping, he will recover.13 However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He referred to falling into a refreshing and natural sleep.14 So then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus is dead,15 And for your sake I am glad that I was not there; it will help you to believe (to trust and rely on Me). However, let us go to him.16 Then Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, Let us go too, that we may die [be killed] along with Him.17 So when Jesus arrived, He found that he [Lazarus] had already been in the tomb four days.18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away,19 And a considerable number of the Jews had gone out to see Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house.21 Martha then said to Jesus, Master, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.22 And even now I know that whatever You ask from God, He will grant it to You.23 Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again.24 Martha replied, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.25 Jesus said to her, I am [Myself] the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on) Me, although he may die, yet he shall live;26 And whoever continues to live and believes in (has faith in, cleaves to, and relies on) Me shall never [actually] die at all. Do you believe this?27 She said to Him, Yes, Lord, I have believed [I do believe] that You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), the Son of God, [even He] Who was to come into the world. [It is for Your coming that the world has waited.]28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, privately whispering to her, The Teacher is close at hand and is asking for you.29 When she heard this, she sprang up quickly and went to Him.30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the same spot where Martha had met Him.31 When the Jews who were sitting with her in the house and consoling her saw how hastily Mary had arisen and gone out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to pour out her grief there.32 When Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she dropped down at His feet, saying to Him, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.33 When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who came with her [also] sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. [He chafed in spirit and sighed and was disturbed.]34 And He said, Where have you laid him? They said to Him, Lord, come and see.35 Jesus wept.36 The Jews said, See how [tenderly] He loved him!37 But some of them said, Could not He Who opened a blind man’s eyes have prevented this man from dying?38 Now Jesus, again sighing repeatedly and deeply disquieted, approached the tomb. It was a cave (a hole in the rock), and a boulder lay against [the entrance to close] it.39 Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of the dead man, exclaimed, But Lord, by this time he [is decaying and] throws off an offensive odor, for he has been dead four days!40 Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God?41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.42 Yes, I know You always hear and listen to Me, but I have said this on account of and for the benefit of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You did send Me [that You have made Me Your Messenger].43 When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out!44 And out walked the man who had been dead, his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] napkin bound around his face. Jesus said to them, Free him of the burial wrappings and let him go.45 Upon seeing what Jesus had done, many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in Him. [They trusted in Him and adhered to Him and relied on Him.]46 But some of them went back to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.47 So the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the council (the Sanhedrin) and said, What are we to do? For this Man performs many signs (evidences, miracles).48 If we let Him alone to go on like this, everyone will believe in Him and adhere to Him, and the Romans will come and suppress and destroy and take away our [holy] place and our nation [our temple and city and our civil organization].49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year, declared, You know nothing at all!50 Nor do you understand or reason out that it is expedient and better for your own welfare that one man should die on behalf of the people than that the whole nation should perish (be destroyed, ruined).51 Now he did not say this simply of his own accord [he was not self-moved]; but being the high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was to die for the nation, 52 And not only for the nation but also for the purpose of uniting into one body the children of God who have been scattered far and wide. 53 So from that day on they took counsel and plotted together how they might put Him to death.54 For that reason Jesus no longer appeared publicly among the Jews, but left there and retired to the district that borders on the wilderness (the desert), to a village called Ephraim, and there He stayed with the disciples.55 Now the Jewish Passover was at hand, and many from the country went up to Jerusalem in order that they might purify and consecrate themselves before the Passover.56 So they kept looking for Jesus and questioned among themselves as they were standing about in the temple [area], What do you think? Will He not come to the Feast at all?57 Now the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it to them, so that they might arrest Him.