Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break tot test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

Peter spoke the first gospel sermon after receiving the power of the Holy Spirit and he said, "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know, this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of Godless men and put Him to death. And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power." (Acts 2:22-24). Jesus raised Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:22) and the widow's son (Luke 7:14) from the dead probably the same day that they died, which may open discussion to some who do not accept the inspiration of the word, that they "fell into a coma", or some other medical condition which seemed to allow Jesus to raise them form the dead.

That brings us to our question, "How long was Lazarus dead before being raised?". Jesus was good friends with Mary, her sister Martha, and their brother Lazarus (John 11:5), all of Bethany (John 11:1). Now, the sisters sent a message to Jesus saying, "'Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick.' But when Jesus heard it, He said, 'This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it.'" (John 11:3-4). Jesus stayed on two days longer and then told His disciples, "'Let us go to Judea again.' The disciples said to Him, 'Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?'" (John 11:7-8).

Jesus then told them, "'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awaken him out of sleep.' The disciples therefore said to Him, 'Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.' Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. Then Jesus therefore said to them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.'" (John 11:11-15). Thomas then tells the other disciples, showing great courage, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." (John 11:16).

When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Martha came to meet Him, "Martha therefore said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother shall rise again.' Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.'" (John 11:21-26).

Then Martha went to call Mary secretly saying, "The Teacher is here, and is calling for you." (John 11:28), and Mary arose and went to the outskirts of the city where Jesus was said to Him, "Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (John 11:32) When Jesus saw her and the Jews who followed her, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). Some then said, "'Behold how He loved him!' But some of them said, 'Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him who was born blind, have kept this man also from dying?'" (John 11:36-37).

Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus, a cave with a stone lying against the entrance, and , "Jesus said, 'Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time their will be a stench, for he has been dead for four days.' Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you, if you believe, you will see the glory of God?' " Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "'Lazarus, come forth.' He who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings; his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him and let him go.' Many therefore of the Jews, who had come to Mary beheld what he had done, believed in Him." (John 11:43-45).

So, there we have the answer to our question as Lazarus was dead for four days! Some of the Jews reported these things to the Pharisees who planned to kill Him from that day on (John 11:53) as well as Lazarus since he was a reminder of that great miracle and so many were believing in Him (John 12:10-11).

Let us contemplate these scriptures that have been preserved so that we may also believe, like Martha, and make the good confession for life eternal!