Day 1053: Jesus' friends - John 11 vs 1 - 13

1-3 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5-7 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then, after this, he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9-10 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11-12 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 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. John 11:1-13 English Standard Version

Chapter 10 ended by telling us that the leaders in Jerusalem were seeking to arrest Jesus, but that He escaped from their hands. He then left the city and went across the Jordan to the place where the man called John the Baptist had been baptizing at first, and stayed there. While He was there He received news of illness in a family He loved. What is an encouraging truth we can take from vs 4, and vs 5-7?

Situations in life that turn our hearts to fears and tears don't mean that God is against us, or that Jesus doesn't care. And, if there seems a delay in the Lord's response to our prayers, it’s surely because God has a deeper purpose in our trials. They will turn out in a way that will reveal God's glory to many. This was true in the life of the man named Joseph who spent years in prison in a foreign country through betrayal by his brothers, but was later used by God to save the whole family when severe drought put their lives in danger. (Genesis 37-50) Now it would be true in the experience of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and the disciples too.

What could Jesus have meant in vs 4 by saying the illness of Lazarus 'does not lead to death', when vs 13 tells us He knew that Lazarus had died during the 'two days longer'? My thoughts are that Jesus believed that, at His command, God would bring Lazarus out of the tomb where his body had been laid. Death would not be the end result. And I suspect it was because this event would be a picture of that awesome coming day when God is going to raise ALL who have died. Earlier in this book Jesus said to the crowds: “Don't be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out - those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.” (John 5:28-30)

There's another encouragement, and perhaps a challenge too, that we find in these verses. When Jesus spoke of returning to Judea (where Jerusalem was situated) the disciples were astonished and replied: “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” What do you take from Jesus' reply to them in vs 9-10?

I think it ties in with Jesus' words in Chapter 9 of this gospel when He said: “As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:4-5) Jesus was once again setting His face towards Jerusalem, knowing the danger of doing that, so as to fulfil His mission. The encouragement for us is that if anyone seeks to walk in God's will, it will be like walking in the bright light of day, and not stumbling like those whose deeds are in the dark. If Christ is in us, we will experience light for our journey, even when it leads into danger – and possible death!

But what a lovely way of describing the death of someone whom Jesus loves. Our friend Lazarus has 'fallen asleep – but I go to awaken him'! Such will be true of all of Jesus' friends.