July 31
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LAZARUS’ DEATH
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then 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 seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” 12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” 16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.” – John 11:1-16
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In previous accounts, we know that Jesus, Lazarus, Mary and Martha were very close friends.In verse 5 it shows how Jesus loved these sisters especially their brother Lazarus. In this story, we hear of Lazarus’ getting ill but Jesus had to continue his journey to Judea. The disciples were scared for Jesus because the Jews wanted to stone Him, and yet Jesus reminded them to walk in the day so they don’t stumble.
Jesus declares his deity again as He told them about Lazarus falling asleep which was a figure of speech to tell them he is dead. Then He declared that it was good that He wasn’t there so He could actually use his beloved friend’s death to bring forth life so that they may believe that He is the Son of God.
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REFLECTION
• How can Jesus postpone going to see Lazarus to heal him while he was still alive and continue to do God’s work in Judea?