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The Illness of a Dear Friend/Relative
From John 11: 1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." 5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." 8 The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?" 9Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10 But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them." 11 After saying this, he told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him." 12 The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right." 13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." 16 Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
We fear late night telephone calls. We fear telephone calls from loved ones or dear friends when they have bad news concerning their health. We fear doctor's reports when we have not felt well. As Christians we always have prayer, but many of us sometimes leave that for a last resort; we want to know what our doctor can do, and then if s/he can't, what can a specialist tell us in this case? And if that specialist doesn't have better news, can we get a second opinion? People in the time of Jesus had physicians, though not with the knowledge and treatment options, but the reality was that not every village had one. To see one might require long distance journeys that sick ones would not make. In the case of Martha and Mary, they had a brother, Lazarus, who became ill. This household was a household of faith for they knew and believed in Jesus. The connection is mentioned in verse 2, Mary had anointed Jesus with perfume and dried His feet with her hair. Jesus had also been asked to settle a dispute among those two sisters, one wanted to serve guests, the other wanted just to hear what Jesus had to say, and the one serving asked Jesus to order her sister into service. Jesus replied that one of them was on the right track, seeking to learn more about Him. So, in this story, both agreed that they needed Jesus to come and heal their brother. They knew of Jesus' power and had heard the stories of people being healed of major birth defects or serious illnesses. They had full faith in Jesus Christ and probably no one or nothing more. They send word to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."
Word reaches Jesus and we expect that Jesus would immediately drop everything and rush to Lazarus' side; is that not what we would do? And certainly the disciples thought the same thing, but Jesus amazes them by declaring that this illness would not lead to death and would instead serve to bring glory to God's name, and the Son of God would also be glorified through this illness. There was no doubt about Jesus' love for Martha, Mary and Lazarus, but Jesus takes two days to begin his journey back to Bethany in Judea. When he tells His disciples they are headed back to Judea they remind him of what the Jews had tried to do to Him there and Jesus states, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them." Then He says, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, he will be all right." Jesus was trying to explain death in a new way to the disciples and so they replied, well, if he's just asleep, he'll be all right." In other words, why make the trip? Then Jesus says plainly, "Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." Thomas, he of doubt fame later on, then says, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
You and I have prayed many times expecting immediate answers to our requests, and still loved ones have died or the answer was not the one we sought. Do we give up faith if our prayers are not answered in our way? Certainly not! Jesus answers all prayers according to the will of God, not our will. Prayer seeks to strengthen us in the knowledge that God is in control and we are in need of God; not to merely answer prayers according to our need. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13 that we don't fully understand all things while we are alive, but the day is coming when all things will be revealed. Until then we remain committed and trusting to the Lord and whatever the will of God may be for our lives and that of our loved ones. We fear death but this passage serves to show what perception Jesus had of death, that it is not the end and that it can be compared to being asleep. Those who die loving and trusting the Lord do not die. Yes, their death is a terrible loss and it hurts to see them go, but it is not the end. This Lenten Journey has been all about what Jesus suffered for our sake and to bring us victory over sin and death.
PRAYER: Loving God, as this dear reader prays this prayer, You know the hurt and sorrow in his or her heart for loved ones who are ill. Some may even be feeling the effects and discomfort of an illness in their own bodies, so our prayer dear God is for their healing and comfort. Strengthen their faith and in turn their bodies so that they may endure whatever life has brought them, but prepare them for that which awaits us all who love you, after this life. You are the Divine Physician and in You can be found cures and healing that no one else can offer. We ask that You be glorified in our lives. We pray this in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
