seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 11:1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
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Here's the link to the commentary I read. There is so much in the commentary that is not included here, I do urge you to follow the link and read the rest of it!
Lazarus… Mary and her sister Martha: Jesus had a close relationship with this family. When Lazarus was sick it was natural for them to bring their need to Jesus. It was expected that if He miraculously met the needs of so many others, He would meet their need also.
Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick: Mary and Martha did not specifically ask Jesus to come and heal Lazarus. They felt they did not need to, that it was enough to simply tell Jesus what the problem was.
“The love of Jesus does not separate us from the common necessities and infirmities of human life. Men of God are still men.” (Spurgeon)
This sickness is not unto death: Lazarus was already dead when Jesus said this, but He knew the end result would be the glory of God, not death. Jesus also knew that the events recorded in this chapter would set the religious leaders in determination to kill Jesus. This meant the end result would be that the Son of God may be glorified in His death and resurrection.
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus: John reminds us that Jesus did genuinely love these sisters and their brother. It was an important reminder, showing that a testing of their faith was not a denial of His love.
He stayed two more days: It seems strange that Jesus did not immediately act upon this great need. The delay was probably mystifying to the disciples and agonizing to Mary and Martha.
Let us go to Judea again: Jesus could have raised Lazarus from a distance. Because of the opposition from the religious leaders, Judea was a dangerous place for Jesus. Nevertheless, Jesus was willing to go to Judea again — despite the warnings from His disciples.
Are there not twelve hours in the day? Jesus’ disciples were shocked that He would return to the region of Judea when He was a wanted man there. Jesus responded with by saying that He still had work to do. The twelve hours were a figurative way to speak of the time allotted by God the Father for the earthly work of Jesus.
If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble: During these hours no harm could come to Jesus and the disciples. They had to work before the night of Jesus’ passion.
Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up: Jesus used the familiar metaphor of sleep to describe the death of Lazarus. The figure of speech was especially meaningful because Jesus would soon wake him up — bring Lazarus back from death.
Lazarus is dead. And I am glad: Jesus could be glad, even in the death of a dear friend, because He was certain of the outcome. We see at the end of the events of this chapter that grief was comforted, life was restored, many more believed, and the necessary death of Jesus was set in motion. All of these were reasons to be glad.
Thomas, who is called the Twin: Church tradition says that Thomas was called the Twin because he looked like Jesus, putting him at special risk. If any among the disciples of Jesus were potential targets of persecution it would be the one who looked like Jesus.
Let us also go, that we may die with Him: Thomas was willing to go with Jesus even if it meant dying with Him. He made this commitment without much understanding of a promise of resurrection.
“Thomas utters a cry of loyal despair.” (Tasker)
“He is the pessimist among the disciples, and now take the gloomy, and, as it is proved, the correct view of the result of this return to Judaea, but his affectionate loyalty forbids the thought of allowing Jesus to go alone.” (Dods)
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If you are new to Jesus, this is a very exciting chapter. If you have been a Christian since you were a kid. This is a thrilling story that shows us there really was a plan for the Resurrection. The preachers I've known don't preach the story of Lazarus much. It's such a downer!
Jesus let His friend get stinky instead of just healing his friend from where He was. Jesus just had to go to Judea Himself.
Jesus let His friend die to prove a point!
It's almost as if Jesus used Lazarus to test the tomb!
It's almost as if Jesus was using His friend Lazarus like a lab rat!
OR.... maybe, because He was wanted in Judea... Jesus knew the Pharisees and Sadducees would be hovering around Lazarus, knowing Jesus would come. He wouldn't have the crowds around Him at a funeral for His friend.
Maybe Jesus waited that extra couple of days because He wanted to make things a little safer for His disciples.
After all, wouldn't the Pharisees and Sadducees just give up their watch when they knew Lazarus was getting stinky?
Maybe Jesus knew the Pharisees and the Sadducees would give up because they didn't think Jesus could heal the stinky!
Yep! Jesus could have healed His friend with just a thought, but He let Him die and then He let Him get stinky.
Do you think Jesus wept? Do you think it made Jesus sad that His friend had to go through this? What about the sisters? Did Jesus weep over their feelings?
Now.... on a personal note.... please look at Verse 16 again.
Thomas looked just like Jesus. They called Thomas the twin!
Now, Jesus wanted His disciples to go with Him to Judea. Jesus was wanted in Judea. All the Pharisees and Sadducees, as well as any soldiers or spies they could hire, were looking for Jesus.
Thomas looked just like Jesus. They called Thomas the twin!
Jesus was taking Thomas to Judea where Thomas was going to attract a lot of unwanted attention!
On a personal note.... When I read Verse 16, I thought Thomas was being sarcastic!
I figure Thomas was giving his best impression of Eeyore, that donkey from Winnie the Pooh!
Thomas, the twin of Jesus, would be in more danger than the others when they got to Judea. AND>>>> He's a doubter! He wouldn't feel safe until it was all over and they were out of harm's way again.
"Sure" Thomas said, "Let's all go to Judea, so we can all be put to death with Jesus!"
Jesus was a wanted man.
Thomas looked just like Him.
Did God sculpt Thomas to be Jesus' twin for this purpose?
Lazarus was dying.... and Jesus let him.
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