Enrichment Activities for Weave Your Word in Me

Jesus Revealed His Identity to the World Through Friends —

Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary, were good friends of Jesus. They lived in Bethany near Jerusalem and opened their home to Jesus when he was passing through. The Gospels record their encounters in Luke 10:38-41, John 11:1-44, and John 12:1-11.

Their special friendship and the way Jesus used it to ultimately reveal himself to the world can be felt through the following historic paintings.

Martha opened her home to Jesus. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

Johannes Vermeer, c 1654

Lazarus became ill and died. When Jesus saw Mary weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved Lazarus!”

James Tissot 1886-1894

Before Lazarus’ death, Jesus had not allowed his disciples to speak about his ability to raise the dead. Now, however, it was just a few weeks before his own death and resurrection. It was time for Jesus to show what he could do in order to prove who he was, and he was going to use the death of his dear friend to do just that.

After he prayed, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” As a result of this amazing miracle of raising a man from the dead, many of the Jews put their faith in Jesus.

Duccio de Buoninsegna 1310-1311

My Prayer

Dearest Father, Wow! A friend of Jesus who had been dead for four days — his body already beginning to decay and stink — was brought back to life just by Jesus speaking the words, “Lazarus, come out!” Thank you for allowing your Son to be glorified in this way. Thank you for allowing his true God-identity to be revealed in front of all these people. Thank you that many believed in Jesus as a result of this miracle. I worship you the one true God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

In every era, artists have brought this magnificent true story to life using art. Watch a modern animated drawing of the story of the raising of Lazarus produced by Keys for Kids Ministry.