How do the raising of Lazarus and the council’s response unfold?

Lazarus of Bethania, the town of Mary and Martha, is sick. The narrator identifies Mary as the woman who anointed the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair. The sisters send word that the one Jesus loves is sick. He says the sickness is not unto death but for God’s glory and the Son’s glorification. He loves Martha, Mary and Lazarus, yet remains where He is two days after hearing. Then He proposes returning to Judea. The disciples question returning where the Jews recently sought to stone Him. He describes twelve hours of day, walking without stumbling by the world’s light, and stumbling in night without light. He says Lazarus sleeps and He will awaken him. They take sleep as a sign he will do well, but Jesus means death and tells them plainly Lazarus is dead. He is glad for their sake He was not there, so they may believe, and calls them to go. Thomas, called Didymus, urges fellow disciples to go and die with Him.

On arrival Lazarus has been in the grave four days. Bethania is about fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem, and many Jews have come to comfort the sisters. Martha meets Jesus while Mary stays home. She says her brother would not have died had He been there, but knows God will give whatever He asks. He promises her brother will rise; she understands resurrection at the last day. He identifies Himself as resurrection and life: a dead believer will live, and a living believer will not die forever. Asked if she believes, Martha confesses Christ, Son of the living God, come into the world. She secretly calls Mary with news that the master comes and calls her. Mary quickly rises; mourners follow, thinking she goes to weep at the grave. Jesus is still where Martha met Him. Mary falls at His feet and repeats that her brother would not have died had He been there. Seeing her and the others weep, Jesus groans in spirit and troubles Himself. He asks where they laid Lazarus, is invited to see and weeps. Some remark on His love, others question whether the opener of the blind man’s eyes could have prevented this death.

Groaning again, Jesus reaches the sepulchre, a cave with a stone over it. He orders the stone removed; Martha says her brother now stinks after four days. He recalls His promise that belief would see God’s glory. They take the stone away. He lifts His eyes and thanks the Father for hearing Him, explaining He knows He is always heard but says this for the people to believe the Father sent Him. He loudly calls Lazarus forth. The dead man presently comes out, feet and hands bound in winding bands and face covered by a napkin. Jesus tells them to loose him and let him go.

Many witnesses believe, while some report the events to the Pharisees. The chief priests and Pharisees gather a council, ask what to do about His many miracles and fear that leaving Him alone will bring universal belief and Romans taking their place and nation. Caiphas, high priest that year, tells them they know nothing and says one man’s death for the people is expedient so the nation does not perish. The narrator interprets this not as speech of himself but a prophecy as high priest that Jesus would die for the nation and gather dispersed children of God into one. From that day they devise to put Him to death. Jesus no longer walks openly among the Jews and stays with His disciples in Ephrem near the desert. As the pasch approaches, country people go to Jerusalem to purify themselves and discuss His absence in the temple. The chief priests and Pharisees command anyone knowing His location to tell them so they can apprehend Him.