Lazarus Is Sick

Jesus sits among His disciples beside the rocky hills of the Jordan region as a traveler with a staff delivers urgent news: Lazarus, the friend whom Jesus loves, is sick. The gathered disciples listen as the messenger stands before the Lord, bringing the sorrow of Bethany into the quiet wilderness setting.

The scene reflects the opening of John 11, where Mary and Martha send word to Jesus concerning their brother’s illness. Christ’s response reveals that the sickness will not end in death, but will become the occasion for the glory of God to be displayed. This artwork emphasizes the moment before the journey to Bethany, a solemn beginning to the raising of Lazarus and a meaningful visual for teaching on faith, divine timing, prayer, and the hope of resurrection.