THIS SICKNESS WILL NOT END IN DEATH

Passage: John 11:1-6

Key verse: 4

NIV

The Death of Lazarus

11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany,(A) the village of Mary and her sister Martha.(B) 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)(C) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love(D) is sick.”

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory(E) so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,

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ESV

The Death of Lazarus

11 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of (A)Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (B)It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, (C)he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, (D)“This illness does not lead to death. It is for (E)the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

5 Now (F)Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus[a] was ill, (G)he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

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Footnotes
  1. John 11:6 Greek he; also verse 17
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The one you love is sick (1-3)

Mary, Martha and Lazarus were close personal friends of Jesus. He had visited in their home fre- quently (Lk 1

:38-42). In chapter 12, Mary dramati- cally expressed her love for Jesus. The sisters were confident that when Jesus heard of Lazarus' illness, he would drop everything and come--even though it was dangerous. So they sent the message, 'The one you love is sick.'

2. This sickness will not end in death (4-6)

Jesus deliberately waited two more days before going to his friends. Jesus loved this family, and he wanted to give them spiritual life--something better than just physical healing. He saw Lazarus' sickness as an opportunity to glorify God, and to bless his friends and disciples by planting resurrection faith in their hearts. God's love is different from human love. God's love is painful, but life-giving.

Prayer: Lord, help me come to you in times of suffering and grief. Help me to trust your love and see in every problem an opportunity to glorify you.

One Word: It is for the glory of God