John 11:1-4 - This will not lead to death

11:1,2

This is the last, and the greatest, of the miracles recorded in John’s gospel (excluding the resurrection itself!). John introduces Lazarus, Mary and Martha. See from verse 2 that John assumes his readers already know about Mary (Luke 10:39-42). This points to Luke’s gospel having been written earlier than John’s, and that it was well known at a relatively early stage in the later part of the first century. John then refers to Mary anointing Jesus with ointment and her hair, something he does not relate until chapter 12. So why does he mention it now? Presumably the incident was already well known.

11:3,4

Lazarus was ill, so the sisters sent for Jesus to come and help. They knew of His healing gifts and wanted their brother to be healed. “Lord, He whom you love is ill”. This is a strange way to refer to Lazarus. It implies that Jesus already knew Lazarus, which as we know that He knew Mary and Martha is not the least bit surprising. Note that the basis for their calling on Jesus is that He loves Lazarus. When we pray the basis for our prayer is not our goodness, but the Lord’s love for us.

Jesus declared that this illness would not end in death. Now we know that Lazarus did indeed die, but this was not the final outcome. When God is working in our lives it can seem that events are going very much against what we are expecting God to do for us. We should not be dismayed, even death cannot stop God’s plans. The sisters were, quite naturally, focused on their brother’s health, but Jesus had a greater purpose in mind. The Son of God was going to be glorified in this. Now this might seem rather selfish of Jesus, but when He is glorified we benefit as well. In this particular story Lazarus and his sisters would have a far greater concept of the greatness of God and His plans for them.