This is Part 2 of a 6-Part Series on Illness, Healing, and Death
"Because He loved them, He stayed where He was two more days."- John 11:6 (emphasis added by me)
What?!?! Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus so much that, when he heard Lazarus was sick, instead of doing something about it immediately, He stayed where He was two more days?!?! That seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? If we were to hear someone we loved was sick and dying, we would probably rush right off to make sure we got there in time ... but Jesus waited. Not only did He wait, but He waited two more days. ... He intentionally waited until Lazarus had died before even heading back to Bethany.
If you read the verse just before this, as soon as Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, He said, "this sickness will not end in death"; He had already determined what the outcome would be. So, why wouldn't He go immediately to Lazarus and heal him? Or, better still, why wouldn't He just speak the words and heal Lazarus from a distance (He had already done that with the Centurion's servant)? Why would He allow Mary, Martha, and Lazarus to experience the pain and suffering and trauma of Lazarus' illness and subsequent death if His plan was that Lazarus wouldn't die?
But Jesus is clear about His purposes, if not every detail of His plan. The verse prior to this indicates that, not only would "the sickness not end in death", but that the purpose of it was "for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." - John 11:4
So, in what way would waiting bring God glory? In what way would be doing nothing for such a long period of time be a loving act?
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were close with Jesus; I'm guessing they'd probably had a front row seat for at least a few of His miracles. If I remember correctly, there are some theologians who speculate that one of the lepers Jesus had healed may have been their father. Personally, I would speculate that they also knew about the healing of the Centurion's servant; while they may not have witnessed it themselves, I would imagine word got around (it has a way of doing that ... even without social media!). So, from what I can gather (and, again, I am totally speculating here), I would guess they: knew firsthand that Jesus was capable of healing someone ... knew, at least by word of mouth, that Jesus was capable of healing someone without even being physically present ... and knew, to some extent, that He was capable of raising someone from the dead (Jairus' daughter).
In addition, their friends, family, and neighbors, at the very least, had heard about Jesus, and knew that He had spent time with their family. They knew He loved them - deeply.
In addition to all of this, Jesus' disciples obviously knew He was capable of healing and of raising someone from the dead. After Lazarus dies, Jesus tells His disciples that they are heading back to Bethany, but His disciples are confused about why they are heading back. Jesus makes it clear to them that Lazarus is not just sick or "sleeping" ... but that he is dead, and here's the startling thing, He says to them, "And for your sakes, I am glad I wasn't there." - John 11:15 (empasis mine)
At some point in the next several days, I will elaborate on this and, hopefully, it will be clear to you what Jesus appears to have had in mind, but, for now, at least, you will just have to "tune in tomorrow"!
© I Lift My Voice, 2015.