The story of the raising of Lazarus begins with Mary of Bethany and her sister Martha sending word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick. Upon learning of his sickness, Jesus proclaims that this sickness will not be the death of him. After two days, he decides to go to Judea to visit Lazarus despite the fact that some of the Jews there had tried to stone him. When the disciples protest, he says that Lazarus has died and that he must awaken him. When he arrives, he learns that Lazarus had been in his tomb for four days. Martha comes to him lamenting that he had not been here to save Lazarus from death. Jesus assures her that he can raise him from the dead because he must prove that all who believe in him will never truly die. When Mary comes to see Jesus, she says the same thing as Martha, and he is moved by their weeping. After weeping himself, he comes to the tomb of Lazarus. He instructs the people to remove the stone from his tomb, and after some hesitation, they do it. Jesus yells, "Lazarus, come out!" Lazarus emerges from the tomb completely fine.
This story is ultimately a literal manifestation of the "eternal life through Christ" concept. It also serves as foreshadowing for his own return from death. Lazarus went on to start a chain of successful department stores or something, eventually being acquired by Macy's.
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