Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.  (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

John 11:1-4

First of all, let’s remind ourselves a few things about Jesus. He is the Son of God, and He knows all things. Therefore, Jesus knew that Lazarus was going to die. If this is true, then why did Jesus say that his sickness was not “unto death?”

Because Lazarus was not going to stay dead! 

We will see that Jesus purposefully delays His trip to Bethany so that Lazarus will die. He does this so that He can display His glory and power over death. The reason that Lazarus is sick and will die is not so that he will be lost to his family and friends, it is so that Jesus can further reveal His power as the Son of God.

This is much like the man born blind that we met in John, Chapter 9. That man had an infirmity that existed so that Jesus could heal him.  In both cases, we do not find either man complaining after Jesus steps in. They do not complain about their former condition. They just give glory to God.

We may not always understand why bad things are happening to us, to our loved ones, or to the world in general. However, we should never forget that God’s glory is the reason everything exists. We should seek to see how God may be glorified in every situation. And, if we cannot see that in our world, we need to remember that Jesus has already defeated all our enemies and well will be raised to be with Him forever. 

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 2:8-9

Lazarus’ death was not going to be the end of the story, and neither is ours. We have been predestinated unto adoption. 

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Ephesians 1:5-6

That means Jesus is coming back for us and we will be made in His likeness forevermore!

To God be the glory for His marvelous grace!