Jesus & Lazarus

A Critical Man

John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick named Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister  Martha.

Lazarus has a critical illness. The biblical story concerning this man is about the miracle coming from his illness. It is about the glory of God and how God Himself was glorified, because a man got sick and died.

All mankind is critically ill, but most just don’t know it. God can heal and will bring glory to Himself if we will trust Him.

Concerned Sisters

John 11:3 So the sisters sent word to him, saying, “Lord, behold, the one whom You love is sick.”

The word here for sick implies the kind of sickness that’s serious. Death begins to threaten their brother, and they immediately think of Jesus.

Mary & Martha knew His power, who He was, and what Jesus could do.

They got a message to Jesus, and said, ‘listen, the one whom You love is sick.’ They did not try to tell Him what to do. They simply say, ‘Lord, here’s a need.’ They don’t give Him any instructions on how to fix their problem.

When we have a need, we call out to Jesus and often tell Him exactly how to fix it, providing the time-frame needed.

They just said, ‘We have a need; we know you can meet it.’

Psalm 37: Listen, “Commit thy way unto the Lord.”

Our love for Jesus does not activate His blessing on our behalf. If Christ operated in our lives on the basis of the degree and extent of our love for Him, He would do far less for us, because our love is inconsistent.

How do we know that He will meet our need? Because God holds back no good thing from His children.

Mary and Martha went right to the source. He was tempted like as we are, yet without sin. He knows.

The Delay of Jesus

John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was sick, then He remained in the place He was two days.

If Jesus loved him, why did He wait? Why did He not go to his friend immediately?

If Jesus loves me, why does He wait to meet my need?

While time can be an expression of love, you do not measure love on the basis of time.

What does time have to do with a God who is all powerful at all times?

The delay is based on love. He waited until it was the right time to really have an impact. Although it often mystifies us, God doesn’t normally just jump in fast and meet our needs. God often makes us wait before His love becomes visible.

Isaiah 30:18 Therefore Yahweh waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he will rise up to show you mercy, for Yahweh is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

The Fearful Disciples

John 11:7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were seeking just now to stone you, and are you going there again?”

Just weeks earlier, He had escaped from there with His life. The disciples were afraid that if they went back to Jerusalem they would be killed, and decided there was no sense in that.

As Christians, we do not need to fear death. We are operating on God’s time.

He is in control, and we are supposed to be doing what we can while we are here.

John 11:9 Jesus replied, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks around in the daylight, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

God prescribed the bounds of Jesus’ life. The disciples’ concern cannot lengthen it. All the Jewish religious leaders’ rejection and hatred cannot shorten it. It is the same with our lives.

This is also true for the unbeliever—time is extended for no one. God sets boundaries on our lives, too, and there’s just enough time to receive and live for Christ, but no time to spare. This life is not to be wasted.

The Confident Christ

John 11:11 He said these things, and after this He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I can awaken him.”

‘For your sakes, I’m glad that I was not there. This miracle I will do will advance your faith forward.’

Jesus does everything for the glory of the Father and for our good. Even when He delays, if is for our benefit.

We can trust Him.