IT IS FOR GOD’S GLORY

Passage: John 11:1-16

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, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”(F)

8 “But Rabbi,”(G) they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you,(H) and yet you are going back?”

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light.(I) 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend(J) Lazarus has fallen asleep;(K) but I am going there to wake him up.”

12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.(L)

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

16 Then Thomas(M) (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

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Footnotes
  1. John 11:16 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

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. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, (H)“Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, (I)“Rabbi, (J)the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, (K)“Are there not twelve hours in the day? (L)If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But (M)if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not (N)in him.” 11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus (O)has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 (P)So Thomas, called the Twin,[b] said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, (Q)that we may die with him.”

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Footnotes
  1. John 11:6 Greek he; also verse 17
  2. John 11:16 Greek Didymus
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

When Lazarus fell into a deadly illness, his sisters informed Jesus that the one he loved was sick. Confident of His love for them, they expected that Jesus would come immediately. Jesus’ response to the news however was quite shocking. Jesus delayed going and instead waited two more days purposefully. He knew that Lazarus would die and that his sisters would suffer much pain and sorrow. Yet, he saw Lazarus’ death as an opportunity to glorify God and to help them and the disciples to believe in him as the Resurrection and the Life. Sometimes, God brings hardships in our lives, including the painful and sorrowful ones such as the death of loved ones. This, however, is always done with our soul’s good in mind, as trials refine our faith and secure our hope of the resurrection.

When Jesus decided to go to visit Lazarus in the tomb, the disciples were fearful because they had no light in their hearts. We must remember however that, as long as we follow Jesus (9:5), we will not stumble. As no one can change twelve hours of daylight that God set, no one can change our lifespan that is in God’s hand. Those who walk by day, therefore, will be confident and victorious in their service to God. Jesus saw death as a short time of sound sleep. In Jesus, there is no element of death.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in you in my trials, as opportunities to glorify you and walk in your light.

One Word: God works sovereignly in our pain.