Jesus Responds to Sister's Call

Call in the New Testament Jesus and His Calls in Ministry Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)    Prophesying Daughters John 11:1-11 New International Version The Death of Lazarus 11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” 11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.” For Reflection So, perhaps we see here a glimpse of the truth about the world beyond the grave. We mourn for the departed on this side of death because we do not know what lies beyond the grave. Upon hearing of Lazarus' illness, why was Jesus so unmoved to withdraw immediately? Two reasons come to mind. First, his life was in danger. Delaying his travel to Judea would reduce the risk that Jesus would be killed en route or when he arrived.  His enemies may have given up the idea that he would show up after a delay(especially if Lazarus had died). Even so, why such a callous response? Jesus knew what lies beyond the grave. Perhaps his lack of immediacy revealed that whatever lies ahead is not to be feared. Jesus knew that death is not the end of life! The breathless are merely sleeping, and life sustained in another form. Oh death, where is thy sting? We mourn for the living, not the dead. Pray Pray, and listen to the word of God, which speaks from the scriptures. Pray and fear, not death. Pray and celebrate life, everlasting life. Forward to a friend