Day 24
When was the last time you heard news about a dear friend in need? Regardless of the cause, whether an unexpected diagnosis, difficult divorce, crippling accident, financial hit, or devastating loss, I imagine you had a similar internal response as I often do, “I wish there was something I could do.” Perhaps that’s where your thoughts of care stalled out. All too often, we let our discomfort with knowing exactly what to say when tragedy strikes stand in the way of offering love, sympathy, or help. We feel overwhelmed, or insufficient for the task, and so we make excuses. Do any of these sound familiar? “I didn’t want to say the wrong thing, so I didn’t say anything at all.” or “I wish I knew how to help.” or even “I didn’t want to bring it up and upset them.”
Notice the focus of these statements - “I didn’t want…I wish I knew…” - are primarily centered on the person making the comment, the “I”, rather than on the person for whom care is intended. When our thoughts are on our own struggles or discomforts in addressing the issue, we neglect the goal of providing comfort or help for the person who is actually in need.
Our reading today highlights the first half of an important event in Jesus’ ministry, when his buddy Lazarus is terminally ill. His sisters have sent word to Jesus, to come quickly because Lazarus doesn’t have much time left, but Jesus does the exact opposite. Does He not love these dear family friends? Is He thinking only of Himself? Of course not, but I imagine it looks that way to everyone around Him.
Read John 11:1-16
Jesus’ dear friends, Lazarus, Mary and Martha, lived in Bethany, about 2 miles from Jerusalem. Meaning “House of Figs,” Bethany symbolized hospitality and friendship. It was also on the way to Jerusalem from Galilee, which meant that Jesus had grown up traveling through the village and regularly visiting with his friends. I imagine Jesus growing up with Lazarus and the sisters, their families being close, always looking forward to the next Jewish festival that would bring Jesus through town. It is against that backdrop that the sisters send Jesus an urgent message, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” (v 3)
His disciples look at Jesus, and fully expect that they are turning around to head back towards Jerusalem, and preparing their arguments for why that would be a death wish - surely Jesus knows that the Jews are scheming to kill HIm? But Jesus looks nonplussed upon receiving the news and says, “This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (v 4) Lazarus’s illness would not lead ultimately to death, but it would lead through death to being raised from the dead a few days later.
Why would Jesus stay where He was two days longer? John writes that Jesus loved Martha, her sister and Lazarus. When then would He not rush to Lazarus’ side, or at least heal him from afar? Jesus would orchestrate circumstances to require his friends to go through the sorrow and hardship of the death and mourning of Lazarus. Why? Because he loved them. I can imagine as the hours turned into days, Mary and Martha didn’t feel loved by their friend. They felt overlooked, unseen, unloved. But Jesus had more in store for them than a simple healing. He wanted them to witness the most amazing demonstration of Jesus’ power thus far - His power over death, thus displaying “his glory, glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” from John’s introduction in 1:14. The Lord does not always answer prayers as expected, but He always answers.
Jesus’ phrase “our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep…” (v 11) seems to confuse His disciples. Often in the Old Testament terms like “fallen asleep” or “lie down in rest” were euphemisms meaning “dead.” However, John uses the present perfect participle tense “has fallen asleep” signaling a completed act with continuing action. This tense construction was generally used to describe ongoing illness recovery. The disciples thought that Lazarus’ fever must have broken and he was on the road to recovery. Why then, would Jesus want to go back to Bethany and wake him up? Especially if Jesus’ safety and their own by their proximity to Him, was in danger? If Lazarus would recover naturally from his illness, this dangerous journey seemed an unnecessary risk.
Their confusion confirms that before the resurrection, even Jesus’ inner-circle disciples did not yet grasp His full authority over death. Honestly, why would they? And yet, their confusion with the Lazarus situation anticipates the clarity they will gain post-Resurrection Sunday. For now, the disciples reluctantly, and perhaps with some gallows humor when Thomas blurts out, “Let’s go too so that we may die with him.” (v 16) go with Jesus, but not at all excited about what they might encounter in Bethany.
Big Picture Questions for Today:
* How do you care for those dear friends who are struggling? Is your instinct to get busy organizing a meal train or distance yourself, for fear of getting it all wrong and hurting your friend instead of helping?
* Which of the following questions would be best to ask a dear friend: “I know exactly how you feel. When my dog died, it was like I lost a member of my family.” or “I cannot imagine the trauma you must be feeling at the loss of your little brother.”
* When someone is experiencing suffering, is your first thought, “Why doesn’t God love and see this person?” If so, consider the early disciples of Jesus and their confusion over His authority as sovereign king over the universe. God is aware of your friend’s pain and has a plan through it. How can you be a part of God’s presence, provision for your friend?
Pray this liturgical prayer compiled from several prayer books:
O Creator, who knows the frailties of our bodies and the sorrows of our hearts, I bring my dear friend before You. In this season of illness, when strength is low and the path forward feels uncertain,
I ask for Your gentle, healing presence.
Lord, for the broken places in their body, I ask for restoration. For the anxieties in their mind, I ask for the peace that passes understanding. Comfort them in their suffering, let them feel supported by love,
and provide wisdom to those providing care.
Even in the waiting and the unknown, may this friend know they are not alone. Wrap them in Your love, and let this time be a witness to Your sustaining grace. Grant them comfort and, if it be Your will, a full return to health.
Amen.
