John 11:4
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."
When Jesus performed a miracle such as the one described later in this story, the effect was like the ripples after a stone is thrown into the water. The immediate effect is that Lazarus is profoundly affected (of course). His family is changed forever, full of gratitude and stronger in their faith. All of the people who were there at the tomb are also faced with a new, undeniable reality. And everyone they come upon in their lifetime will hear the story. The miracle does benefit many, but Jesus points out that the miracle is intended to glorify God. I think this is a very important concept for me to remember. When we don't see a miracle, it is not due to lack of God's love for us or our loved ones. God shows his love for us in so many ways. Miracles such as those seen in the early years of the church had a different purpose than just the immediate healing of an individual. I look forward to others' perspectives on this.
Holy Lord, you can perform miracles, yet we don't see many like the one in the story of Lazarus. Or do we just miss them because we are not seeing? Help me, Lord, to never miss what you intend for me to see. Help me to glorify you through sharing your miracles of the past, still very relevant today. Amen
Becky, transforming
John 11:4
After reading this entire story, it seems to me that Jesus knew that Lazarus might die and
as sad as that was, it would offer him his most spectacular miracle. He refers to himself as the Son of God and this episode will make people understand who he was and the works he could perform. And it did. People were amazed and believed in him. However, the raising of Lazarus from his grave brought great fear to a different population. The leading priests and Pharisees knew at this point he was a danger to them and they began plotting his death.
Prayer: Gracious God, how sad that such a miracle would ultimately lead to Jesus death. One i…