11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. I was there friends. It"™s almost two miles out of Jerusalem on the east slope of the Mount of Olives. The tomb is still there and observed daily.
11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) There are 5 Marys in the New Testament. This is the same Mary that anointed Jesus"™ feet in John 12:3 with one pound of expensive perfume.
11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. This particular love is the friendship love in the Greek..Phileo. The sisters sent messengers to Jesus the physician of soul and body while they watched over Lazarus.
11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Oh , but it was unto death but a very short death. The Jews had a habit of saying a sickness was unto a sickness or a sickness was unto death. Jesus is assuring them that this sickness is not unto death. He is all knowing.
11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. The Greek word here is Agape..the unconditional love. For us it"™s the love of 1 Corinthians 13 love. A sacrificial love that is demonstrated in patience in kindness towards others.
They were intimate friends with Jesus. How can we be intimate friends with Jesus? Feel free to answer this one. I would say by abiding ,and continuing in His Word/ teachings. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
11:6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Wow"¦why the delay? I thought He loved them? Why are our prayers often delayed? Jesus had a purpose and was not following human inclination here. He withdrew His blessing here that He might enlarge it.
Conclusion"¦We know the end of the story , a wonderful miracle will happen that will ultimately speed the death of Christ. I desire that intimate relationship with Jesus that Lazarus and His sisters had.
God bless you and have a great day,
Chuck
Taz,
Yes ,I agree . Our peace with Him is through faith. Romans 5: 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Brother Chuck
John 11: 1-6 Jesus delays a healing.
