Operating without his illumination will cause you to trip and wind up on your face.ġ1:11 The reason they needed to return to Judea was because Lazarus fallen asleep and needed waking. But to function apart from Jesus is like walking around at night ( 11:10). Later, they would have the light of the Holy Spirit’s presence. While Jesus, the light of this world, was with them, they could walk and not stumble ( 11:9). The Son of God-not the angry religious leaders-was sovereign over his ministry timetable.ġ1:9-10 Jesus told them that the day-the time of his public, earthly ministry-was the opportunity for action. But, though one can understand their concern, the disciples apparently hadn’t noticed that a lot of folks were having trouble seizing Jesus (see 7:30-32, 44-46 8:20 10:39). Judea was where people had wanted to kill him ( 11:8). His disciples looked at one another and wondered if their Rabbi was losing it. Trust him in his delays.ġ1:7-8 Finally, Jesus said, Let’s go to Judea again ( 11:7). He responds as he does because he loves us and because he’s seeking his glory. There’s a method to his (apparent) contradictions. But the reality is that we don’t understand his timing or his purposes because his ways are not our ways (see Isa 55:8-9). When he doesn’t, we’re tempted to assume he doesn’t care. In our times of struggle, we want God to respond immediately. This passage demonstrates an important theological truth regarding prayer. However, it was because he loved them that he delayed his arrival. His delay appeared to contradict his promise of healing. But, in spite of this, Jesus stayed two more days in the place where he was ( 11:6). They shared an intimate relationship with him. Rather, it had a spiritual purpose.ġ1:5-6 John tells us that Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus ( 11:5), and they knew of his love for them (see 11:3). Lazarus’s sickness was not a means of punishment, not a sign of rebellion.
If someone says that a Christian walking with the Lord can’t become ill or contract a disease, that person is simply wrong.
As in the case of the blind man (see 9:1-3), these negative circumstances were not the result of sin they were for the purpose of glorifying Jesus. Knowing that Jesus had power to heal their brother, Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus, urging him to come ( 11:3).ġ1:4 When he received the message, Jesus vowed that the sickness not end in death but would end in the glory of God. But on this occasion, there was a problem. They appear several times in the Gospels ( 11:1-2 see Luke 10:38-42 John 12:1-8). The Resurrection of Lazarus and the Approaching Death of Jesus ( 11:1–12:50)ġ1:1-3 A certain man named Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, were followers of Jesus.
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