Citation: John 11:1-46, uniquely in John's gospel. The seventh + climactic "sign" in John (after water-to-wine, official's son, paralytic, 5,000-fed, walking-on-water, blind-from-birth).
Narrative
Setup (vv.1-16). Lazarus of Bethany falls sick. His sisters Martha + Mary send word to Jesus. Jesus says: "This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God." Yet he stays where he is two more days. Then proposes to disciples to return to Judea (where Jews recently tried to stone him). Thomas: "Let’s also go, that we may die with him."
Arrival (vv.17-31). Lazarus has been dead four days when Jesus arrives. Martha meets him: "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn't have died. Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus: "Your brother will rise again." Martha: "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Martha: "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God's Son, he who comes into the world." She fetches Mary.
At the tomb (vv.32-44). Mary falls at Jesus's feet: same words as Martha. Jesus weeps. ("Jesus wept", shortest verse in NT, John 11:35.) At the tomb (a cave with stone): "Take away the stone." Martha protests: "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus: "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see God's glory?" The stone is removed. Jesus prays. Then with a loud voice: "Lazarus, come out!" Lazarus emerges still bound in graveclothes. Jesus: "Free him, and let him go."
Aftermath (vv.45-46). Many of the Jews who had come believe. Some report to Pharisees.
Theological significance
Climactic "I am" saying, John 11:25-26 is the 5th of the seven Johannine "I am the X" sayings. Jesus identifies himself as the resurrection, not just one who performs a resurrection. The miracle enacts the title.
Trigger for passion, the very next chapter (John 11:47-57) records the Sanhedrin's response: Caiaphas's "advantageous for us that one man should die for the people" prophecy. The Lazarus miracle is the proximate cause that locks in the crucifixion plan.
Foreshadowing Jesus's own resurrection, the structure parallels: a beloved is dead + buried + sealed + raised by God's word. But contrasts: Lazarus emerges still bound in graveclothes (will die again); Jesus emerges leaving graveclothes behind (rises to never die again, cf. John 20:6-7 details).
Jesus's emotions, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35) + "groaned in himself" (vv.33,38), affirms his real humanity even as the miracle affirms his divinity. Patristic + modern theologians wrestle with what to make of his emotion when he knew he would raise Lazarus. Most readings: genuine grief at sin's effects + at his friend's family's grief, even when knowing the next-moment outcome.
Four days' delay, important detail. Jewish tradition (later rabbinic) sometimes held a soul lingered near the body for three days hoping to return; by day four, the case was hopeless. Lazarus's four-days-dead frames the miracle as unambiguous (not resuscitation of a recently-comatose person).
Notes on identity
This Lazarus is the brother of Martha + Mary of Bethany. He is NOT the Lazarus of the parable in Luke 16 (the beggar). The two names are spelled the same in Greek, but they are distinct figures and are kept separate here.