(3) The delay of Jesus and the death of Lazarus was for the glory of God. While we may not fully understand how it can be, the death of Lazarus, and John Smith, and other saints, is not inconsistent with His love. We have no doubt that our Lord also loved John Smith and his family. Those who witnessed the response of the Lord to the grief of Mary and the others remarked, "Behold how He loved him! (11:36). When Jesus arrived at the tomb of Lazarus, He wept (11:33, 35). That was not just their estimation, for in verse 5 we are told that Jesus did love Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. When Mary and Martha sent news to our Lord of Lazarus' illness, they said, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick" (v. The God who is sovereign in our salvation is also sovereign in our suffering. John died because it was God's time for him. I wish to be very clear this morning when I say to you that it is the firm conviction of those in this church, including Sue, that John's death was the will of God. While many attempt to explain death in such a way as to absolve God of any responsibility, John clearly tells us that Lazarus died because our Lord planned it that way. The tragic thing about the death of Lazarus, in addition to the fact that it was untimely, was that Jesus could have prevented it. The Lord could have prevented Lazarus' death and restored him to perfect health, just as Mary and Martha believed (cf. Let us not attempt to gloss over the clear statement of verse 6 that Jesus deliberately delayed knowing that Lazarus would be dead (v. (1) The Lord purposed for Lazarus to die.
Before we seek to find the answer from this text, let me make three observations which are crucial to our understanding. Why? That is the question which John intends us to ask. Jesus could have prevented the death of Lazarus, but did not. Jesus could have been there sooner, but chose not to. He tells us what Mary and Martha did not yet know-that Jesus could have been there much sooner, but that He chose not to, so that Lazarus would die. John writes in such a way as to highten our interest. To go back to Bethany, to the disciples, meant almost certain death (v. The disciples were not surprised and did not seem eager to encourage Jesus to return to Judea, for opposition had become so intense that some of the Jews had attempted to stone Jesus (v. Then, instead of hastening to Bethany, Jesus deliberately delayed for two days. John informs us, however, that Jesus responded (it would seem to the messengers who had been sent) that the illness of Lazarus was not unto death, but for the glory of God. Mary and Martha sent an urgent message to the Savior, expecting that He would immediately come to them and heal Lazarus. Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus, was critically ill. The portion of Scripture which was read to you from the eleventh chapter of John's Gospel contains a message which is particularly relevant to us today. When John and I talked about this service, I promised him that I would share with you the truth of the Gospel, which was the basis for John's faith and hope. Their faith, and mine, is that it is God's will to die what would seem to be an untimely death. But John and Sue's faith is in a God who is both good and great. If God were not sovereign, we could explain John's death as something which was not God's will, but was simply beyond His ability to control. Russia feels no need to explain her act of shooting down a civilian aircraft, but we have learned not to expect that nation to act out of love or compassion. If God were not a God of love we would have no need for any explanation. Perhaps you have come expecting a some kind of apology from God, or at least an explanation. I think there is a sense in which we can all agree that this is a tragedy. John Smith died at the age of 38, leaving behind his wife and three children. The funeral is from John 11 and the raising of Lazarus.
Background: John was in the process of being recognized as an elder of our church when he died of cancer, still in his 30s.
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