The Prince of Life

Lazarus is mentioned in the NT only in chapter 11 and 12.

John 11:1–4 NKJV

1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Chapter 10 ends with a determined attempt to arrest Jesus, but Jesus had a successful escape.

Now what calls Jesus back south is an appeal from Mary and Martha.

The great irony is that Jesus risk His life to go to Bethany to resurrected His friend Lazarus. But this was the beginning when they legally started to push pen to paper to kill Jesus . John 11:53 “53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.”

vs 3 Lord behold him whom You love is sick.

Two things are inadvertently being communicated here.

They sought Jesus because they knew He could heal. So they knew He had the ability to heal.

The sought Jesus because He loved Lazarus.

So they sought Jesus because of His ability and His love.

You would think because of these two legatimate factors that that would be enough for Jesus to move instantly.

And if Jesus doesn’t move according to these two factors. Then these two questions would arise

Does Jesus have the ability to heal?

Does Jesus love Lazarus.

But they left out a third factor “so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

John 11:5–6 NKJV

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.

Jesus waiting two more days wasn’t callous. John made it clear that Jesus loved Lazarus.

So it wasn’t that Jesus wanted to seek some vain glory for Himself. Jesus isn’t heartless or insensitive and Gods glory isn’t devoid of affection but it was entirely keeping with Jesus love for this family.

The Gospel according to John 1. The Death of Lazarus (11:1–16)

Lazarus’ death and the resurrection that follows are not only to glorify the Father and the Son, but are for the good of Lazarus and his sisters.

When therefore he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. This means that the two-day delay was motivated by Jesus’ love for Martha, Mary and Lazarus. How can this be?

Lazarus was presumably dead presumably right after the messengers had left.

Jesus delay for two days did not, therefore bring about the death of Lazarus.

Jesus delay was a deliberate refusal to be manipulated for Mary and Martha, and to wait on the Father’s timing.

Same as Jesus mother trying to manipulate in

John 2:4 “4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.””

And Jesus brothers doing the same.

John 7:3 “3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.”

The ones closest to us have the tendency to manipulate us the most.

You and I cannot manipulate Jesus. Because He knows whats in our hearts.

We try to manipulate God

through our tears

through our promises

by using His Word against Him.

By our good deeds.

Luke 10:41

The New King James Version Chapter 10

41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things

The New King James Version Chapter 10

42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

The New King James Version Chapter 12

2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.