This is a very famous story, but it’s not recorded in the other three gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Most of the stories in the first three books of the New Testament are about Jesus’ work in Galilee, whereas John focuses mostly on Jesus in Jerusalem. And that is where we find this story taking place. In the small town of Bethany, close to Jerusalem. Jesus would stay in Bethany on his way to Jerusalem for the celebratory feasts. This miracle takes an entire chapter to tell, which is far more than any other miracle Jesus performed.
Verses 1-3 Mary, Martha, and their brother, Lazarus, are followers of Jesus. These are the same sisters we met over dinner drama back in Luke 10. The author recognizes Mary as the woman who anointed Jesus with oil and wiped his feet with her hair in John 12:3. (This is not the same Mary we met in Luke 7:37-38.) To Jesus, she not only sat at his feet when there was work to be done, but she showed her devotion and humility by giving something incredibly expensive and meaningful to Jesus and then wiping it up with her hair.
Lazarus is sick and dying. Knowing that Jesus had the power to heal their brother, Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus urging him to come. Read their message from the ESV. The sisters say, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” They didn’t petition Jesus with how much Lazarus loved him and how much the sisters loved Jesus, but how much Jesus loved him. Our love for God is not worth speaking much of. We fall so short of love. Our love is fickle. It’s great when things are good, but takes flight when things fall short of our expectations. But His love… His love is perfect, unfailing, and steadfast. His love for us went to the cross.
Verse 4 When he received the message, Jesus vowed that the sickness would not end in death but would be for the glory of God. God’s people get sick, but He puts purpose to the things that are meant for our harm. Our losses, disappointments, and sickness hold the purpose of glorifying Jesus. It is for the glory of God that we have these opportunities for the manifestation of God’s glorious power through his sweet mercy, unending grace, and unmerited favor that supports and relieves us. Everything created and allowed is for God’s glory.
We are most satisfied when God is most glorified.
Verses 5-6 Jesus loved these siblings, and they knew he loved them. It was because he loved them so much that Jesus didn’t come right away. He wanted to do something extraordinary that no one had ever experienced before. Deferring so long would give an opportunity to do what no one had done before. He had gracious intentions with the delay. (Isaiah 54:7, 8; 49:14) Even though he wasn’t there doesn’t mean he wasn’t thinking of them.
We could say that our greatest joys come out of our deepest sorrows. This trial would expose some hard feelings and harrowing faith. These sisters would have to hold on to the disappointment and sadness while clinging to their love of Jesus and faith at the same time.
In our times of struggle, we often want God to respond immediately. When he doesn’t, we’re tempted to assume he doesn’t care. But we don’t understand his timing or purposes because his ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Often the worst times are the best time for God’s favor. When all hope is lost and we have reached our limit, God seizes the opportunity to grow our faith in his favor. There’s a purpose for everything Jesus does. He responds the way he does because he loves us. He knows when he is most glorified, we are most satisfied. We must trust him with the delays. Whenever Jesus is involved, something extraordinary happens.
Verses 7-8 Finally, Jesus tells his disciples they should go to Judea again. Puzzled, the disciples question whether this is a good idea since that’s the place where people were trying to kill him. Notice Jesus says, “Let us go.” Jesus never leads his people into danger alone. He accompanies them. He is with us even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. (Psalm 23) They distrust his power to protect and preserve them. If our chief interest is Jesus’ kingdom set up in this world, then we must trust his wisdom and power to do it in His way. Without fear of suffering. He knows how to protect his sheep amid a herd of wolves.
Verses 9-10 Jesus is saying there is an opportunity to act, so they should take advantage of it. Our own comforts and satisfaction can impede our duty to squeeze the life out of a minute. But the Word of God has given us a clear call to do His work with our time. If we set the will of God ahead of our own desires and make it our rule of life, we can walk with holy confidence in all we put our hands and hearts to.
When we respect God’s commandments without hesitation and seek the glory of God as our goal in life, our faithful Guide will securely lead us through the doubts and guard us against the dangers. (Galatians 6:4, Psalm 119:6)
Jesus, the light of the world, is with his disciples so that they can see the way and walk in it without stumbling. When we try to work without Jesus or outside his rule, we are walking around in total darkness. Darkness represents the night. If we follow the way of our hearts and by the sight of our eyes, we will fall. This is the course of the world. If we listen to our own reasoning more than the will and glory of God, we will fall into temptations and traps. Fear will grip our hearts and we will flee when no one pursues us. (Proverbs 28:1) But we will walk in the light of the day wherever we go if we follow in His steps.
Jesus in us gives light to how we should think, speak, and act and encourages us to follow him without fear.
Verse 11 Jesus tells the disciples that the reason they need to go to Judea is that Lazarus is there and he has fallen asleep. Death is like sleep.
Verses 12-15 The disciples thought Jesus was talking about a natural sleep where we close our eyes for a short time and wake again. So Jesus came right out with the news that Lazarus has died. And then Jesus follows that up with, “for your sake I am glad that I was not there so that you may believe.” (v.15 ESV) Another version says, “for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now, you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.” (NLT) Jesus wasn’t glad that Lazarus died. He meant he was glad about what he was about to do. Had Jesus been there earlier, he would have simply healed Lazarus. They would have missed further proof of Jesus’s miraculous power. Their faith would not have grown much since they had seen him heal before.
Sometimes God will let things get worse before they get better. His glory shines brighter in the darkest of nights. The purpose of Jesus’ miracles is to perfect what is lacking in our faith so that we may believe even more.
Verse 16 Remember this disciple mentioned here, Thomas. He is saying that he is ready to die with Jesus in Judea. “Let’s go!” he says. Very bold! Later, after Jesus dies on the cross and resurrects, Thomas doubts. (John 20:24-29) Most people know Thomas for his lack of faith after the resurrection. In fact, today we use the term “doubting Thomas” for people who don’t believe something. It’s sad that he’s known for that when he’s right here full of faith saying, “Let’s roll! Jesus has work to do in Judea. I’m ready to die with Jesus if it comes to that.”
This is a great lesson that today we might live full of confidence in Jesus, but we can easily fall into doubt tomorrow. Therefore, we must always stand guard over our hearts and our thoughts daily by putting on the helmet of salvation and the breastplate of righteousness. The devil is a deceiver. He wants us to doubt. We must cling to our faith even when the delay doesn’t let up.
Prayer
Jesus, it’s me, the one you love, pulling at the heartstrings of heaven for your attention. I believe in you and I believe in the work you are doing in my life, even when I can’t see it. Help me live as I believe, crucifying my self-preservation or any reserves so that I may live fully ready to die for what I believe, so that your glory may shine. Though frustration tries to grow roots in the delays and sprout doubts in you, I pray your Truth will sink down and uproot the lies. May your Word fertilize my life, Jesus. I, too, want to be known by you for my devotion to you, my faith in you, and for leading with a heart of humility with you and others. I’m holding fast to your Truth, Jesus. Help me abide in your Word and submit to your authority in my life. Refresh my faith. Help me to take advantage of the daylight and seize opportunities to share the gospel and be a conduit of the Light of Christ in this dark world. Wake me from a spiritual sleep so that I may live fully awakened to your grace, love, and Truth. May my life glorify you, Jesus. You are the reason I live. In Jesus’ name, Amen.