John 11:3-10 (WEL) Then his sisters sent for him, saying, “Lord! Behold, your dear friend is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard this, he said, “This sickness doesn’t lead to death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified by it.” 5 Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. 6 Therefore, when he heard that he was sick, he remained where he was in the same place for two more days. 7 Then after this, he said to the disciples, “Let us go into Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just seeking to stone you, and you are going back there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours in the day? If someone walks in the day, he does not stumble because he sees the light of this world. 10 “But if someone walks at night, he stumbles because the light is not in him.”
V3 Then his sisters sent for him, saying, “Lord! Behold, your dear friend is sick.”
Interestingly, the message doesn’t ask for healing or for Jesus to visit, but that is the intent of it. Jesus knew, of course.
Principle: When we have a problem, pray and seek God’s help and wisdom first.
How does one make the list of Jesus’s friends?
- Believe and obey Jesus—John 15:14 and Proverbs 22:11
- Believe and faithfulness—2 Chronicles 20:7
- Love Jesus at all times and in all situations—Proverbs 17:17
There are other things not listed as loyalty, trust, comfortable with them, ask advice, share feelings, bond with them, and in the case of our relationship with Jesus—pray, read and study the Scriptures, and live a life aligned with God’s word.
Lazarus is described as Jesus’s friend. Lazarus is not an enemy, is not a mocker, or even just a follower; he is Jesus’s friend. What are some characteristics of being a friend?
Lazarus believed, valued, and lived according to God’s ways.
Principle: We need to also believe all the Scriptures in their plain, normal sense, value it greatly, and live according to the Law of Christ in the New Testament. Jesus will be our friend, too.
V4 When Jesus heard this, he said, “This sickness doesn’t lead to death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified by it.”
When Jesus said this, the hearers did not understand completely. They probably thought that Lazarus would not die. Jesus was talking about a permanent death as all humans must experience.
Death is a separation of soul and spirit from the body. Spiritual death is a separation of the human from God.
When the Lord Jesus died, He did not just die and then His spirit left. Jesus yielded His spirit. The Greek word yielded is G0863 ἀφίημι aphiēmi, which means to send, to send away, release. It can also mean a forgiveness (of sins) and pardon. Compare John 10:18.
(Walvoord Prophecy Commentary) Luke 23:46 records that Jesus said: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” John simply notes that Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus had lived as no man has ever lived, and He died as no man ever died. He dismissed His spirit by an act of His will once He had completed His act of sacrifice. He had stated earlier, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18).
The purpose of this sickness is to glorify the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean that God decreed this illness, but it is used to encourage the people (Israel) to repent and believe that Jesus is Messiah.
Principle: God might use natural events to glorify Himself. Let us give Him the credit.
V5 Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus.
This family by their faith and life was pleasing to Jesus.
Principle: We can also please God by faith and desire to obey His rules and teachings.
Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 2 Corinthians 5:9, and Hebrews 11:6.
V6 Therefore, when he heard that he was sick, he remained where he was in the same place for two more days.
This seems strange at the time, but it makes sense in the context of this event. He is also testing their faith.
Principle: God might delay an answer to prayer for a reason. Let us be patient.
V7 Then after this, he said to the disciples, “Let us go into Judea again.”
Compare John 8:59 and John 10:31. The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus, so why go back there? First, Jesus always did His Father’s will; secondly, Jesus could not be taken until the right time; and thirdly, Jesus loved this family and wanted to help them.
V8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just seeking to stone you, and you are going back there again?”
This is their concern, but now they will learn by the example of the Lord Jesus. This is not a lack of faith, but a genuine question.
Principle: It is okay to ask God why?
V9 Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours in the day? If someone walks in the day, he does not stumble because he sees the light of this world.
Jesus’s answer is that it is still “day,” that is, a time for God’s work to be done and seen in order that people would believe in Him. The light of this world is Jesus.
Principle: Jesus is the only 100% truth-telling person. We can trust Him.
Principle: If Jesus wants us to do something, then we must do it.
V10 “But if someone walks at night, he stumbles because the light is not in him.”
Not having light is hard on people, even suicidal. The worst type of darkness is spiritual darkness. Spiritual darkness is because we are born sinners and enslaved to sin, which displeases God. Sin contaminates us and eliminates us from God’s presence. This is why Jesus came to be the light to enlighten every person in the world, not just some special group of people. See John 1:4-12.
We learn:
- The purpose of delays.
- Jesus’s love and compassion.
- Facing danger.
Questions:
- How would you have handled the fear of returning to Judea?
- Would your fear stop you from serving the Lord Jesus?