The Complete Sayings of Jesus
Sermon in Parables (Concluded): Offences, Forgiveness, Faith, Master and Servant, Martha, Mary, Lazarus:
"Lazarus, Come Forth" — "I Am the Resurrection" — Jews Take Counsel to Kill Jesus.
A.D. 30. Age 33 Perea. Bethany. Perea.
Luke 17, 1-10: John 11, 1-54.
THEN said Jesus unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto
him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck,
and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend1
one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him;
and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a
day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. The apostles said unto the Lord,
Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto
this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey
you. Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise
ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants:
we have done that which was our duty to do.
Lazarus, of Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha, was sick. (It was that Mary which anointed
the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair.)2 The sisters sent unto Jesus, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is
sick. Jesus said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God
might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. He abode two days
in the place where he was; then saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again.
His disciples say, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not,
because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is
no light in him. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of his sleep.
Howbeit Jesus spake of Lazarus' death; but they thought that he had spoken of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus
plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may
believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. And when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had
lain in the grave four days. Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him;
but Mary was still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my
brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it
thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha answered, I know that he
shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and
the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Martha saith, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou
art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. When she had so said, she went her way,
and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come. Mary arose quickly, and came unto him in
that place where Martha met him. The Jews which were with Mary in the house followed her. She fell at Jesus'
feet, saying, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. Jesus saw her weeping: he groaned in
the spirit, and was troubled, and said, Where have ye laid him? They say, Lord, come and see.
Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! Jesus cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a
stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister, saith, Lord, he
hath been dead four days. Jesus saith, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldst believe, thou
shouldst see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and
said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but
because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. When
he had thus spoken, he cried, Lazarus, come forth. He that was dead came forth, bound with
graveclothes. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Then gathered the chief priests, and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many
miracles. If we let him alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away
both our place and nation. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put Jesus to death.
Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness,
into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
Footnotes:
1Offend: be a hindrance to, or cause to
stumble.
2Some weeks later, as told in Part 74 of this book (in part from John 12, 3-4).