By Parris Bailey
“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.” 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.” 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.” (John 11:1–6)
Life can take some crazy turns. Jesus purposely delays a visit to a family he loves and the sick person dies. The two sisters both tell him “Lord if you had only been here” and while Jesus weeps the crowd does a lot of finger pointing. This might be your life right now.
John 11:4: “But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness is not going to lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’” Herein lies the problem. Us humans wouldn’t have understood this. You see it is always in our nature that Man is central. But in the world of Jesus it will always be about the glory of God. In real terms Jesus said, “Take a deep breath girls its not going to go the way you expected it but God will be glorified.” Buckle your seat belts! Their brother is going to die, and Jesus knows Lazarus is going to die. He’s going to let him die intentionally. He actually waits around for him to die.
John 11:5: “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” Ahhh there it is again. The love word. He loved them so much that he knew Lazarus would die and they would suffer and experience pain all for the glory of God. Love becomes the theme and the glory of God in this story told down thru the ages when sickness, heartache, and pain comes knocking at your door. He loved this family yet waited for the right time for God’s cup of glory to fill. Apart from the Holy Spirit we all flipped out when Jesus waited two more days for Lazarus to die. And of course we identify with “Lord if you would have only been here”.
But Jesus’s answer to the Mary and Martha in us and to the Lazarus in the tomb is “I am the resurrection and the life! Though he dies yet shall he live!” If he is our treasure/the pearl of great price rather than our lives. Then our children, our marriage, houses, jobs, our 401k, inheritances no longer hold anything over us. Because nothing of this story will ever make any sense until he makes his visit to you with those same words of hope and healing. Our lives are lived out in this world for his glory and not for the centrality of man.
Legend has it that this precious family was persecuted the rest of their lives for this miracle because it represented the power of the risen Christ.
May you, through whatever circumstances you find yourself in, meet the resurrection and the life! Your Lazarus will come out of that tomb!