Lazarus is the man of Bethany whom Jesus loved, and called out of the tomb after four days.
Lord, he whom You love is ill.
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.
Lazarus has died,
and for your sake I am glad that I was not there,
so that you may believe.
Lazarus, come out.
The man who had died came out,
his hands and feet bound with linen strips.
Unbind him, and let him go.
The Lazarus in Jesus’ parable of the rich man is another figure.
This Lazarus eats at a table in John 12 while the chief priests plot to kill him too.
Bethany is about two miles from Jerusalem. Mary who anointed the Lord and Martha her sister sent word. He stayed two days longer. By the time He comes, four days have passed—long enough that Martha says there will be an odor. If You had been here is the sentence both sisters know. He weeps. The Jews say, See how He loved him. He tells Martha, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live. Take away the stone. Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. A loud voice. A name. Come out. He walks into the light still wrapped. Many who saw believed. Some went to the Pharisees. Caiaphas will talk about one man dying for the people. Lazarus becomes walking evidence, so they want him dead again. Six days before Passover he reclines at table while Mary pours nard. The chief priests plan to kill Lazarus as well, because on account of him many were going away and believing in Jesus. Jairus’s child and the widow’s son at Nain had just died. Lazarus had begun to decay. The glory is not that Jesus never waits. The glory is that the wait still ends with a name shouted at a cave.
Lord, he whom You love is ill. This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God.
Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.
I am the resurrection and the life. Jesus wept. Take away the stone. Lazarus, come out.
Unbind him, and let him go.
They planned to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many were believing in Jesus.
Do not confuse delay with lack of love. Four days was for glory and for faith. Hear your name when He calls. Come out. Let the church unwrap what He has raised. A living friend still makes enemies. Recline at His table anyway.
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