Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”
Comment: How are old were these three siblings? It seems as if none were married and we don’t know their background except that they were probably rich. I say that because the ointment mentioned cost the equivalent of an average worker’s annual income – about AUD80,000. So they could have called a doctor, and maybe did, but the ladies made sure that Jesus knew of their brother’s illness. Would it be true to say that Jesus prevaricated? ‘This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God,‘. In the short term Lazarus did die. In the long run we see God glorified. Jesus waited presumably until Lazarus was dead before he announced that he was going to the very area where His enemies were seeking to killing Him. The decision did not meet with the disciples approval!
Prayer: Illness still is a major problem for us Lord. Help us to deal with it wisely, trusting You.
As I read it! 