John 11:1-16
The Death of Lazarus
1Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."
4When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." 5Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.
7Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."
8"But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"
9Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."
11After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."
12His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
16Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
A friend of Jesus, named Lazarus was ill...He was from Bethany...He had two sisters, Martha and Mary...Mary is the one later, who would anoint Jesus with perfume on His feet (John 12:3)...The two sisters sent word to Jesus and the message was "LORD, the one you love is sick."...
Jesus heard the message and told those around Him, that Lazarus' sickness would not lead to death...When Jesus said this, those who really loved and trusted Jesus, they would know Jesus would not let Lazarus die...But He is told later "Lazarus is dead."...Jesus is not of this world and we are of this world...Did Lazarus die?...It is difficult to understand that Lazarus did not die...But regardless of Jesus and His statement Lazarus would return...
Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus...Even though Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was for two more days...He did not hurry off to heal His friend... Jesus knows the power of God...God can heal anyone, anytime...God can also intervene, also at anytime...Jesus knows this absolutely...
Jesus tells His followers that there are twelve hours in a day...A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees the light of the world...It is in the night we stumble, because we have no light...To everything there is a reason and time...Everything and everyone happens in due and God's time...God is in control...There are times when things get done and we do things...Unlike man who works and does his regular daily routine and nightly routine on a schedule (or routine), Jesus is in perfect time...The time to go to Lazarus would be in God's time...The course of His life is clearly set...His purpose is clear...Death is part of His purpose...
Thomas speaks up and tells the rest of the disciples, "let us go, that we may die with Him."...Thomas, here, is very brave...Thomas is encouraging the others...He is also supporting and trusting the LORD...We often, like Thomas need be encouraging and supporting of others...
Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters...God's love for us brings eternal life out of our death...God's timing and time is different from ours... Nothing is impossible for God...