Chapter 25

Jesus never performed miracles just to

impress a crowd. He healed people to help and to

prove who he was-the Son of God. Jesus did

remarkable things, and his heart was filled with

love for others. He was powerful and extremely

popular because he was compassionate and

tender. But his popularity and power bothered the

rulers of the government and the leaders of the

church.

One day, as Jesus taught near the Jordan

River, a messenger from Bethany rushed over to

him. “Lord! Your friend Lazarus is very sick!”

said the messenger. “His sisters need you to

come right away!” Jesus loved Lazarus and his

sisters very much. He visited them often, and

they took good care of him.

Jesus pondered the message for a moment

and said, “God’s Son will be glorified through this

illness.”

The disciples huddled together, wondering

what Jesus meant. Two days later, as they traveled

to Bethany, they wondered why Jesus had waited

so long to help his friend.

“Our friend has fallen asleep, but I will go and

wake him,” Jesus said. But the disciples didn’t

know that Jesus planned to show them a big

miracle.

As they neared the village, Lazarus’ sister

Martha came running to meet them. She told

Jesus that Lazarus had died. “Lord, if you had

been here, my brother would not have died,” she

cried. Jesus comforted her. “Your brother will

rise again,” he said.

Martha thought Jesus meant that Lazarus

would live in heaven someday. Jesus asked her if

she truly believed in him. “Yes, Lord,” she said. “I

believe that you are the Son of God.”

Then the other sister, Mary, came out to see

Jesus. She said, “Lord, if you had been here, my

brother would not have died.” She cried and cried.

Mary cried so hard that Jesus could not keep

from crying too.

Jesus, still upset about his friend’s death,

went to the place where Lazarus’ body was buried.

The tomb was like a cave with a large rock for a

door. “Take the stone away,” Jesus ordered. “If

you believe, you will see the glory of God.”

The disciples didn’t understand, but they

obeyed. They rolled away the stone. Jesus looked

to heaven and prayed, “Father God, thank you for

hearing my prayer about Lazarus.” Then he turned

to the tomb and shouted, “Lazarus! Come out!”

And Lazarus, alive again, came out!

The sisters and all the friends and disciples

shouted for joy. They understood that only the

Son of God could have done such a miracle.

Jesus called to the children playing on the

hillside nearby. At the Teacher’s calling, the

children ran to him. They settled down on the

grass beside him, asking questions, telling Jesus

their latest adventures.

From a distance, the mothers and fathers

watched as Jesus patted their little ones on the

head and blessed each child. Jesus loved being

with the children. They brought him great joy.

But the disciples considered the children a

problem instead of a blessing. They were upset

that the children were interrupting Jesus. They

thought Jesus should tend to more important

matters.

“Shoo!” “Go away, children!” “Don’t bother

the Teacher!” they said.

The children were surprised. The embarrassed

parents pulled their children away and started to

leave. Jesus was not happy that the disciples were

sending the children away.

“Wait! Come back!” he called to the crowd of

little ones. They obeyed, running back to the

Savior’s arms.

Then Jesus spoke firmly to his disciples.

“Don’t ever push the children away from me!

They are very important. You should be just like a

little child, if you want to understand my

teaching.”

The disciples learned a valuable lesson. And

Jesus gave a special blessing to all the children

who came to him.