King James Bible
"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha."
John introduces a new narrative by identifying a specific individual facing illness, establishing both the personal nature of the story and its central crisis. The name Lazarus (meaning 'God helps') becomes significant given the miraculous events that will follow. The geographical marker places this account in Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem, while identifying Lazarus through his famous sisters. John assumes his readers already know Mary and Martha, suggesting their prior importance in the Gospel tradition and Jesus' ministry.