"Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 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. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord the one you love is sick."
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." Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days. John 11:1-6 (NIV)
Jesus loved this family dearly. I think all three of these people were some of Jesus dearest to his heart friends. Jesus is God in the flesh, so he knew how sick Lazarus was. Remember, Jesus is all knowing. How do you think Mary and Martha felt when Jesus didn't immediately come to their house to help Lazarus? Like you and I; they probably felt aching heart pain beyond what they'd ever felt.
Then Lazarus died. In fact when Jesus arrived where Lazarus was he had been wrapped and put in a tomb for four days. Mary was so sad and probably upset with Jesus that when she heard he was coming, instead of running out to greet him , she stayed home.
Martha, did go out to meet him, but she was upset. "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will do whatever you ask."
Jesus said to her,"Your brother will rise again."
Martha answered and said, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
Jesus said to her, "I am" the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:23-25 (NIV)
Martha told Jesus she did believe; and then she ran back to get Mary, because Jesus wanted to see her as well. When Mary heard this she got up and quickly went to see Jesus. Mary also told Jesus she knew Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had come like she had asked.
Jesus felt their pain, and was also sad because Lazarus had to suffer before he died. In fact when he saw the tomb where they had wrapped and laid Lazarus Jesus cried. The One who made us knows us so well, and he knows and sympathizes with us in our pain. He's always there, if we allow him to be a part of our life.
As they stood there, in front of the cave where Lazarus was Jesus told them to roll the stone away, he wanted to go in. Martha argued with Jesus, she said by now Lazarus will stink. (Dead flesh does stink, as it deteriorates.)
At this point Jesus asked them, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always heard me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe you sent me."
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice,"Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
John 11:40-44 (NIV)
Sometimes, I think we all expect too much from other people, and from God. We all forget, this life is not about "me." Everyone of us that are given breath from God are here to glorify Him. Stop getting wrapped up in the death linens of, "who hurt me in life and love." Focus on the good in life, because of God.
Jesus cried when he saw the physical death of Lazarus. He doesn't like what pain and suffering does to individual bodies, or the emotional pain sickness and death cause. If Lazarus hadn't physically died, could Mary and Martha, or we as believers know the peace about the resurrection and life we have in Christ today? Yes, but it would not be as clear as God made it through this example.
Remember your purpose in life, regardless of circumstance, is to glorify God.
