Lazarus Falls Ill
TRANSLATION
(1) Now a man named Lazarus fell ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister, Martha. (2) It was Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair whose brother, Lazarus, was ill. (3) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one whom you love is ill.” (4) But when Jesus heard this, he said, “This illness will not end in death but is for the glory of God so that through it the Son of God may be glorified.”
(5) Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (6) So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two more days in the place where he was. (7) After this he told his disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” (8) The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now wanting to stone you. Are you going there again?” (9) Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk in the daylight do not stumble because they see by this world’s light. (10) But those who walk at night stumble because they have no light.” (11) After saying these things to them he added, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. I am going to awaken him.” (12) The disciples then said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” (13) Jesus had been speaking of his death, but they thought that he was speaking of his taking rest in sleep. (14) Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus has died, (15) and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” (16) Thomas, called Didymus, said to the other disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
OBSERVATIONS
This chapter recounts for us the most spectacular miracle in the New Testament apart from Jesus’ own resurrection from the dead. Repetitions in this segment included six mentions of “Lazarus” (vss. 1, 2, 5, 6, 11, & 14), two of “Mary” (vss. 1 & 2), two of “Martha” (vss. 1 & 5), and four of “brother/sister(s)” (vss. 1, 2, 3, & 5). “Ill/illness” occurred five times in the first five verses, “love(d)” twice (vss. 3 & 5), and “glory/glorified” twice (vs. 4). Four forms of the word for “death” are found (vss. 4, 13, 14, & 16) as well as three occurrences of its euphemism, “fallen asleep/sleep” (vss. 11, 12, & 13). “Disciples” occurred four times (vss. 7, 8, 12, & 16). “Day” is found twice in the same verse (vs. 9) while “light” was mentioned twice (vss. 9 & 10) along with its opposite “night” (vs. 10).
OUTLINE
I. Jesus did not go when summoned by Martha and Mary to come and heal Lazarus. (1-4)
II. Jesus chose to go two days later to “awaken” Lazarus from sleep. (5-11)
III. Jesus then told his disciples plainly that Lazarus had died. (12-16)
IDEA STATEMENT
Jesus delayed his going to deal with Lazarus’ illness for the sake of God’s glory and the disciples’ faith.
APPLICATION
To the late Robert Schuller of Chrystal Cathedral fame is attributed the quotation, “God’s delays are not God’s denials.” Whether we agree with his theology or not, this statement contains great wisdom for those who are struggling with prayers that God seems not to hear. Jesus deliberately delayed his response to the request from Martha and Mary to come when Lazarus was struck with a mortal illness, a decision that seemed at first insensitive and heartless. Yet, when we consider the reasons for his delay, we realize that what he did was motivated by love.
Among the several reasons for his delay, Jesus specified two for his disciples. First, Jesus was more concerned with giving glory to God by exalting the ministry of the Son (vs. 4) than in responding to the pleas of his friends. Jesus’ second reason for delay was centered on strengthening the disciples’ faith (vs. 15). Meanwhile, what seemed to be the worst possible outcome had taken place, leaving Mary and Martha and all of Lazarus’ friends temporarily devastated by his death.
God’s delays in answering our cries for help may sometimes leave us confused and even angry. From a limited perspective, we often struggle to understand God’s reasons for allowing what seems to us unnecessary suffering by answering our prayers the way he does. However, we must learn to trust God’s timing and purpose, all the while realizing that our heavenly Father never makes mistakes nor does he withhold any good thing from those whom he loves (Ps. 84:11).