John 11

Ever had a loved one who was really sick?  Maybe it was serious enough that you weren't sure if they were going to make it.  Jesus knows exactly what that is like.  He lost a friend once.  His name was Lazarus.  Of course the critical difference between us losing a loved one and Christ losing one is that Jesus has within His power the ability to do something about it.

In John 11 Jesus learns that his bud, Lazarus, is deathly ill.  We know that He really cared about this person because Mary and Martha, two other friends of Jesus, sent word saying that "the one whom you love is sick." The fact of the matter is, Jesus loved all of them (v5).  He loved them so much when he sees His friends, He weeps (v35).  Jesus then does something maybe none of us would.  Knowing that He had the ability to stop the sickness, knowing that He was the only person capable of doing anything about it...waited.  He didn't go right away.  Weird right?  He waited a full two days before responding to the emergency.  We would have people fired from the 911 hotline, EMS service or Boerne PD if they did that to us.  So why would He do that?

We find the answer in verse 3 "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the son of man may be glorified by it." This miracle was intended to show us something.  That Jesus held the power over life and death.  Notice also that He not only went to them but He did so at the risk of His own life (v8,10).  Martha knew this.  She tells us in verse 21 "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."  Sure, there's probably some frustration in her voice over the fact that Jesus took so long but don't miss the confidence that she has that Jesus is capable of delivering someone from death.  Check this out.  She then goes on to say, "Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give you."  Jesus makes it clear that the purpose of this miracle is to show us that "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,"  He takes it a step further and says, "Do you believe this?"  Jesus did this to show that He held power over life and death (1 Cor. 15:54-55; Rev 1:18).  He was and is life.

We see how powerful His hold over life and death are when He simply calls Lazarus out of death.  It makes me think about Genesis 1 when God spoke creation into being.  But note that Martha, who seems to me to be the practical one/ pays attention to detail.  She says "Umm...'J', you may want to hold off on that because it really stinks in there.  Seriously, watch out he's been dead for days." Okay, I paraphrased a little but you get it.  Jesus simply calls Lazarus out of death and into life...and it happens!  Lazarus rises and walks out.

 Now, I am going to ask you the same question Jesus asked, "Do you believe this?" Do you believe that Jesus has the power over life and death?  Do you believe that He can deliver you from any circumstance that you face?  I'm not saying that it will always end the way you want it to but you have to believe that He has the power to.  He will always do it in His timing, His way.  Pray to God today and let Him know either way.  Either pray to Him and say "Thanks" for being that God or pray "God give me faith to believe that."

Cool Facts:
Martha and Mary were friends with Jesus and you see them in other parts of Christ's ministry.  There is the infamous Mary and Martha story where Martha is busy with preparations while Mary sits at His feet (Luke 10:38).  Mary also annoints the feet of Jesus and Judas is angry because of the "waste" of perfume (he is actually angry because he won't get that money not because of the waste). 

V35 "Jesus wept" is the shortest verse in the entire Bible!

v50 "It is expedient for one man to die for the nations."  Even those seeking Christ's death and were not believers would preach His gospel!  Pretty cool.