The Word This Week
John 11:1…
We come to the story of Lazarus, whom Jesus loved.
We read Lazarus is sick, and that Mary and Martha have sent for Jesus, Who has apparently been spending the intervening months between December and April in the region beyond the Jordan, in the place where John was baptizing at first.
It is said to be a two days’ journey from Bethany, Judea, where Lazarus, Martha, and Mary lived to the place where Jesus and His disciples were staying.
When Jesus heard the news of Lazarus’ sickness, He assured His disciples Lazarus’ sickness was, “not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Then Jesus did something very strange – at least it would have probably seemed very strange to His disciples at that time. He stayed two more days where He was.
This would have probably been inexplicable to His guys, but none of them questioned His actions. (Actually His non action.) Perhaps this meant Jesus knew – as He had said – that the sickness of Lazarus was not unto death, and so there was no reason to go at all. Or perhaps they thought Jesus would simply heal Lazarus by the Word of His mouth, as it had already been proven to them proximity was not required for Jesus to heal.
You could also factor in they knew the last time Jesus had been in Judea the Jews took up stones to kill Him. There was real fear for Jesus’ life – should He go to Bethany, in Judea.
All of these thoughts may have been and probably were running through their minds as they waited, perhaps anxiously to see what Jesus would do.
Sensing their anxiety, Jesus spoke words that may have initially sounded reassuring about Lazarus’ condition, but instantly turned to grief, and further question about why they had waited. Jesus told them their friend Lazarus “sleeps,” which to them sounded like good news at first – but Jesus immediately corrected. By “sleep,” Jesus meant Lazarus was dead, and He told them so straight up.
It must have been a shock, given the time they had spent waiting.
But Jesus said He was glad for their sakes Lazarus had died, and that He permitted his death so they may believe.
This seems incredible, that even at this late stage in Jesus’ ministry His disciples would still be in further need of proof Jesus was the Son of God. I wonder if Jesus also had this in mind for each one of us…
Pastor Bill
We come to the story of Lazarus, whom Jesus loved.
We read Lazarus is sick, and that Mary and Martha have sent for Jesus, Who has apparently been spending the intervening months between December and April in the region beyond the Jordan, in the place where John was baptizing at first.
It is said to be a two days’ journey from Bethany, Judea, where Lazarus, Martha, and Mary lived to the place where Jesus and His disciples were staying.
When Jesus heard the news of Lazarus’ sickness, He assured His disciples Lazarus’ sickness was, “not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Then Jesus did something very strange – at least it would have probably seemed very strange to His disciples at that time. He stayed two more days where He was.
This would have probably been inexplicable to His guys, but none of them questioned His actions. (Actually His non action.) Perhaps this meant Jesus knew – as He had said – that the sickness of Lazarus was not unto death, and so there was no reason to go at all. Or perhaps they thought Jesus would simply heal Lazarus by the Word of His mouth, as it had already been proven to them proximity was not required for Jesus to heal.
You could also factor in they knew the last time Jesus had been in Judea the Jews took up stones to kill Him. There was real fear for Jesus’ life – should He go to Bethany, in Judea.
All of these thoughts may have been and probably were running through their minds as they waited, perhaps anxiously to see what Jesus would do.
Sensing their anxiety, Jesus spoke words that may have initially sounded reassuring about Lazarus’ condition, but instantly turned to grief, and further question about why they had waited. Jesus told them their friend Lazarus “sleeps,” which to them sounded like good news at first – but Jesus immediately corrected. By “sleep,” Jesus meant Lazarus was dead, and He told them so straight up.
It must have been a shock, given the time they had spent waiting.
But Jesus said He was glad for their sakes Lazarus had died, and that He permitted his death so they may believe.
This seems incredible, that even at this late stage in Jesus’ ministry His disciples would still be in further need of proof Jesus was the Son of God. I wonder if Jesus also had this in mind for each one of us…
Pastor Bill