John 11:1-16…“But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” vs. 4
As John chose stories of Jesus’ life for his gospel he deliberately picked ones that would bring glory to Jesus. He had done it with the man who had been born blind and he did the same with Lazarus’ illness. His readers, at this point, can anticipate that something spectacular is going to happen. Everything about the story, the delay in Galilee, the confusion of the disciples, and the threat of danger, increases the tension and demonstrates the depth of Jesus’ love for his friends. John is a skilled writer and it’s easy to see why his gospel has been a favorite of believers from the beginning.
The Lazarus story sets the stage not only for the miracle of resurrection in Jesus’ own life, but also for the promise of new life for all believers. Here we see clearly what Paul articulated in Romans: that there is nothing, not even death, that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. As the disciples walk with Jesus on his journey to his friends in Bethany, they will learn that no illness leads to death and that, in Jesus, everything that binds us will ultimately be loosed.
As we read this now in Lent, we’re getting a glimpse of the Easter that is waiting. A couple more weeks and the Light of Life will dawn once more!
Thought for the Day: What illnesses do I fear the most?
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