Jesus' friend, Lazarus, and his two sisters Mary and Martha lived there. Martha was the busy sister we have read about and Mary was the one who would pour the expensive oil on Jesus. Mary sent word to Jesus that her brother, Lazarus, was sick. When Jesus was told of Lazarus' illness he declared that his illness would not result in death. Lazarus being ill was to be used so that the Son of God would receive glory. Even though Jesus loved Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, He stayed where He was for two more days after which, He told the disciples it was time to go back to Judea.
The disciples objected, reminding Jesus that only a few days ago the people (Greek Jewish people) there were trying to stone Him, asking Him if He wanted to go back.
Jesus replied that during the 12 hours of daylight people are safe. They can see all around them because they have the light of this world. Night time and darkness is when there is a danger of stumbling because they wouldn't be able to see for lack of light. (That is a worldly application of what He said. However, in a spiritual view it would not be dangerous when people live obedient to God for they would be safe. Jesus coming back to Judea was not safe because of those who wanted to kill Him, but He would be safe because He was doing the will of His Father and it was not yet time for Him to be arrested.)
After that, Jesus said, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up." The disciples then voiced their thought that if Lazarus was just sleeping it shouldn't be necessary for them to risk a dangerous visit to Bethany because he would eventually just wake up. Jesus corrected them saying that Lazarus really was dead. Jesus was glad He hadn't been there to prevent Lazarus' death for their sakes because they would see Jesus wake him and then they would really believe in Him.
One of His disciples named Thomas whose nickname was the Twin (or Didymus) spoke up and encouraged all the disciples with this statement, "Let's go too- and die with Jesus."
(I was struck by this because Thomas has always been referred to as "doubting Thomas" since he asked to see the nail marks in Jesus' body before believing it was the risen Jesus with them. Here, Thomas seems to be courageous and strong, not doubting Jesus at all. He appears to be fearlessly willing to go into a dangerous situation with Jesus. It seems we often see Thomas only as doubting but not as the courageous man depicted here.)
When they arrived, Jesus was told Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. There were also many people locally and even from Jerusalem paying their respects to Mary and Martha. In verse 30, we see Jesus being just outside Bethany and that most likely was because of the many mourners. Martha heard Jesus had come, left Mary with the guests at their house, and ran to outside the town, meeting Him saying, if He had arrived earlier Lazarus would still be alive. She added that God would give Jesus whatever He asked for. (I think confirming that He could have prevented the death of Lazarus.) Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha expressed her belief in the resurrection of the believers at the last day as an agreement to what Jesus said.
Jesus then asked Martha if she believed He was the resurrection and the life and that anyone who lives in Him and believes in Him will live, even after they died (referring to the body). Also, that anyone who lives in Him and believes in Him would never ever die (referring to a person's spiritual part, the soul). At death, the spiritual part, the soul, does not die but goes to be with the Lord.
Martha answered that she believed He was the Messiah, the Son of God and had come into the world from God. Martha then went to Mary to tell her Jesus had arrived and wanted to see her. Mary ran out in a hurry to meet Jesus at the same place. The guests/mourners saw her leave and followed her thinking she was going to the gravesite to weep. Mary saw Jesus, fell at His feet and said the very same thing to Him that Martha said, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died."
Looking at verse 33, we see a variety of words used in different translations. Some say Jesus was deeply moved and in the Greek can be translated "groaned" or "angered." It is said to more closely speak to "angered." Verse 33 tells us Jesus was angry and deeply troubled. (He may have been angered at the hurt, suffering, and pain death puts upon people. Perhaps, He was angry that it was the evil and sin of the world that accounted for so much suffering and pain. Perhaps, angry that this didn't have to happen if the world had not become fallen.) So, here we see Jesus, Mary, and a crowd of mourners. A couple verses later, we see that Martha had also followed Mary.
Jesus asked them where they had put Lazarus. They told Him to follow them and see the tomb he was in. Jesus wept. He was not wailing as the mourners were, He simply wept. If we believe Jesus' anger was at what sin had done to Creation and the people He loved so much then it would make sense that He was brought to tears by the situation of death brought to His people through the devil and sin. This makes sense because in verse 39 it is written that Jesus was still angry. The crowd, however, thought He was weeping because of His sorrow at the death of Lazarus. If we think about that, Jesus was not concerned when He heard Lazarus was ill, nor was He upset when He found out Lazarus died. Jesus knew that death was not the end and that all who believed would live. That being said, does it make sense that Jesus would weep over the death of Lazarus when He knew he would live and more so that momentarily, He would bring Lazarus back to life?
Jesus was still angry when they got to the tomb and told them to roll the stone away from the opening. Martha protested because Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days and the smell would be unbearable. Jesus reminded her that He told her she would see God's glory if she believed. So, the stone was rolled away.
Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me." Then He shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" Lazarus came out still bound in grave clothes and his face in a headcloth. Jesus told them to unwrap him and let him go.
Seeing this, many of the people there believed in Jesus. Others went to the Pharisees to tell them what happened. The Pharisees called the high council together to figure out what had to be done about Jesus. They realized Jesus had performed many miraculous things and that could not be argued. They also agreed that if they let Him continue soon everyone would believe in Him. They were not concerned if Jesus was or was not the long awaited Messiah. They were concerned that the Romans would destroy the Temple and their nation. If that happened, their way of life and power would be lost.
Caiaphas the high priest said, "You don't know what you're talking about! You don't realize that it is better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed." Caiaphas did not know he didn't say this on his own but was led to say that. It was prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation in order to bring and unite all the children of God from all over the entire world.(we see that back in 10:16 regarding the other sheep that were not in that particular sheepfold) The Jewish leaders then plotted to kill Jesus. Knowing this, Jesus stopped His public ministry and went with His disciples to a place near the wilderness.
It was almost time for Jewish Passover and people came from all over to participate in the celebration in Jerusalem. The people looked for Jesus and stood around in the Temple discussing whether Jesus would come or not. In the midst of that, the leading priests and Pharisees ordered that anyone who spotted Jesus must report it to them immediately so they could arrest Him.