What Has God Sent You To Do? When Do You Plan On Doing It? - Jesus' Plan to Heal His Friend Lazarus! - John 11:1-10

John 11:1-10 - The Death of Jesus' Friend Lazarus

11 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.”

Bethany was a small village about 2 miles south of Jerusalem, and the place of the home of Mary and Martha, and their brother Lazarus. In Luke 10, Jesus visited their home for a meal. You might remember Martha was busy with all of the tasks for the dinner, and Mary sat at Jesus' feet. The text also points out that this is the same Mary, who anointed Jesus' feet in John 12, Mark 14, and Matthew 26.

We see the strength of Jesus' friendship with Lazarus when the sisters send word to Jesus saying, "Lord, the one you love is 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." (Guzik)

Jesus tells his disciples who had brought Jesus this news, "This sickness will not end in death!". Since we know the timeline of the story, Lazarus was already dead at this point. Jesus knew of and foresaw all of this happening, and he knew that the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead would lead to his going to the cross and his eventual glorification. 

The fact that John records Jesus' love for these three, begs the question why did he not go there immediately. He loved each of them individually, despite their different personalities and genders. 

"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." (Guzik)

The most important intriguing part of today's story is Jesus' delay of two days before he went to their home. This was obviously going to be agonziing for the two sisters and would test their faith in Jesus greatly. 

"Jesus first refused to grant their request and then He fulfilled it after showing that He does things according to the timing and will of God, not man.Through His actions Jesus demonstrated that His delays were not denials. They would bring greater glory to God." (Guzik)

When Jesus finally decides to go visit Lazarus, the disciples are alarmed. They know he will have to pass through Judea and Jerusalem, where the angry mob would still be. The 12 hours of day he speaks of, were probably not meant to be literal. The 12 hours represent time Jesus had left in the world figuratively speaking. Jesus was the light of the world while he was with them, but soon this light would be extinguished.

“Jesus is saying that a man must finish the day’s work within the day, for the night comes when work is ended.” (Barclay)

“There are but twelve hours in the day, and it will be sunset before you dream of it. Get done what God has sent you here to do.” (Morrison)

How would you have felt if you were Mary and Martha, when Jesus waited for two days before coming to heal their brother? How do you respond when God doesn't seem to answer your request in the time period you would expect? How can waiting for God to act increase your faith and possibly serve a great purpose? What are you waiting on from God right now? Maybe it is for yourself or someone you love? 

Romans 8:28 echoes what Jesus says here, "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose."