The main thing to understand as you live into this passage of scripture is the deep love and friendship Jesus had with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Without this insight the passage ceases to work the formation of our hearts that God desires. So take a moment to ponder the deepest and closest friendship ties you’ve ever experienced. Think about the importance and significance of that other person in your life. Take time to consider what your life would be like without that friendship and loving relationship… Now… take all of that and apply it with great force to the kind of love Jesus felt for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (and how they felt about Jesus for that matter).
The passage tells us that Lazarus is gravely sick. It was a deep blow to Mary and Martha. The best analogy would be when someone you love dearly learns they have a terminal illness. “You’d best go home and make yourself as comfortable as possible…” “You’ll want to get your things in order…” “I suggest you think about how you want to say your goodbyes…” It was a terrible shock and an unforeseen grief. So Mary and Martha send word to Jesus and in the process knowingly tug at the Lord’s heartstrings (cf. John 11:3). After sending word to Jesus they rest for the first time in who knows how long… they are convinced the Great Physician will take care of things.
You know, it’s hard when your expectations are dashed. It’s a dark road to journey on when how you thought you’re friend should act doesn’t come to pass. There aren’t words to describe the let down and the sheer weight of resentment. Yet that’s what happened to Mary and Martha. They waited… and waited… and waited… And Lazarus? Well… he grew more and more deathly ill… Eventually he breathed his last and still Jesus was not anywhere to be seen.
It’s in accounts like these where we learn our Savior is not tame (as C.S. Lewis once quipped). Jesus is not swayed by our expectations. This is a difficult truth and we shouldn’t take about it glibly. It’s hard to wrap our heads around and it can cause more pain than we’d like. In fact, it can lead us to dislike our Savior (notice I’m not saying anything about our love and affection… you can love a parent and at the same time dislike him/her).
Why all the pain? Why the crestfallen countenance? Why the crushed expectations? One word: life is not about Jesus meeting our expectations. Life is about bringing our Heavenly Father glory and praise.
So 3 days pass. And with those 3 days goes Lazarus’ spirit too (it was believed the spirit of a person lingered with the corpse for 3 days… after that time a person was truly dead). Lazarus is dead. No denying it. No arguing with it. No escapism or lingering hope. And here’s the interesting thing… It’s not until all expectations are gone that Jesus arrives and Lazarus is raised from the dead. This miraculous event does one thing and one thing only: it brings glory to God, so that the Son of God may be glorified (cf. John 11:4).
Personal and/or small group questions:
Why are our expectations an impediment at times to God being glorified?
What happens to our expectations when we turn from them to a focus on bring God glory?
What does this passage say to you about God?
What does this passage say to you about people?
What are some expectations God is asking you to hand over to Him?
Scripture Memory Verse: “…if you believe, you will see the glory of God.” (John 11:40b, NLT).
