June 30, 2023
A Deliverer Is Coming
“So, the sisters sent word to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.’ But when Jesus heard this, He said, ‘This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.’” John 11:3-4 (NASB)
Every time I watch a good movie, it starts a little slow. This is so the author or writer can help us to get to know the main character. To do this it takes time. Today’s story is no different. Jesus’ story begins slowly, as miracles increase in His story. We also see increasing hostility to His messages. In the last few months of Jesus’ ministry on earth, we will see a climax or peak toward the most exciting part. A long time ago, I was told the best stories are the true ones. Today’s story is true too. The story about Jesus’s life sets the stage for others who follow who will begin story telling. Jesus’ story is the ultimate love story, that has action, drama, and horror. It is a culmination of all differing types of movies, books, or plays, and yet 100 percent believable. It draws the observer to a conclusion. Is Jesus really who He said He was?
“So, the sisters sent word to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” MacArthur gives some perspective in the timeline for this story: “Since Jesus was in the Transjordan and Lazarus was near Jerusalem, the message to Jesus would most likely have taken one whole day to reach Him. Surely by omniscience, Jesus already knew of Lazarus condition (see v. 6; 1:47). He may have died before the messenger reached Jesus, since he was dead 4 days (v. 17) when Jesus arrived, after a two-day delay (v. 6) and a one-day journey.”[1] Since most travel during this age was by foot, it would take a while before both the message and the deliverer would arrive to see Lazarus. One left Lazarus (the messenger) deathly ill before he left. The other (Jesus) would deliver Lazarus from the clutches of death, even after he had been dead for 4 days. As I said yesterday, Jesus loved Lazarus as a dear friend. He admired him and held him in high regard. So, this news would have moved Jesus to emotion, and yet with purpose of what He was going to do for His friend. Jesus’ response to the women’s request was, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” Note Jesus said, even if he dies, he will not be gone permanently. Calvin says, “He intended by this reply to free his disciples from anxiety, that they might not take it amiss, when they saw him giving himself so little concern about the danger of his friend. That they might not be alarmed, therefore, about the life of Lazarus, he declares that the disease is not deadly, and even promises that it will be an additional occasion of promoting his own glory. Though Lazarus died, yet as Christ soon afterwards restored him to life, he now declares, looking to this result, that the disease is not to death.”[2] The resurrection Jesus was about to perform would not be for his friend’s glory though. Just like Lazarus’ death would not be the end of the story, but that the glory of God might be made manifest. Soon, we will see Jesus die upon a cross, but He will not die. He too will resurrect Himself, by the same power Lazarus was raised, the power of God.
Most good old movies might have some very sad endings. Some take the main character all the way to death, and then rescue him/her back. But what if a character could raise others dead to life, and then later raise His own self. Would you believe His story then? Let’s see what happens.
[1] (MacArthur, John, 1997), 1571.
[2] Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on the Gospel according to John (Vol. 1, pp. 425–426). Logos Bible Software.