John 11:1-16 ESV
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. Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
Rev. Dwight Yoo
There is an inescapable part of life: pain and suffering. In this life, every human relationship ends in pain. We will all die. We face the pain of failed endeavors, pointless jobs, mental illness, physical ailments... This comes to the rich, poor, smart, or successful. No one comes away unscathed.
People react differently. Some get depressed. Some try to avoid it. Some get bitter. Some blame other people, the Man, the government, even God and the church. But others do something differently. They learn and grow.
Gospel truths on pain from the passage on Lazarus
The love of God is sure, in spite of all appearances.
This is the most questioned truth. When we go through pain we don't sense His love. In fact, when life is good, we feel the closest to God. When we are in tough circumstances, it feels like God is far.
When Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick, Jesus did not rush to the family. He waited two more days as this family suffered. He loved them. John 11:5 states it clearly. Jesus loved this family.
Not only this, but this is in the face of great opposition. The disciples fully expected to die in going back to visit the family. This event precipitates the death of Jesus. Jesus knew that this move back towards Jerusalem would eventually cost Him His life.
Jesus waited so that Lazarus would be dead for four days. There was a rabbinic tradition that said that the spirit hovered over the body for a few days. So there was a chance that the spirit would reenter the body and the person would be resuscitated. However, after three days, the body was so far gone that the spirit would leave. So when Jesus resurrected Lazarus, everyone would know...it was no coincidence. Not only that, but this was a wealthy family. There were many powerful Jews at the funeral. So when this brother was raised, many came to believe, the faith of the family strengthened, the faith of the disciples lifted.
Romans 8:28 ESV
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord . For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God is a lavish giver.
The snake tempted Adam and Eve by calling God greedy and selfish. And they believed the snake. God still blessed them after they sinned. We have a lavish and good giver. The disciples and the family wanted a healing. But instead they got a lot more than they wanted or expected. They witnessed a resurrection. But we should not stop there. Jesus is not only one who gives life. He is life! In him, we find delight and satisfaction.
Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ESV
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
No comments:
Post a Comment