A fairy common event – above. Lazarus, a friend, “is weakening”. Jesus is on the other side of Jordan. Lazarus’ two sisters send Jesus a message. He will know – and do – what is to be done, before the inevitable end.
Unusually for John the biographer, we are now told of a future event which comes later in his biography of Jesus – the anointing of Jesus by Mary, Lazarus’ sister, with expensive perfume immediately before Jesus’ own death. That reminds us that Mary was - or would become – extremely devoted to Jesus. And that both deaths are connected…
In fact, Jesus, hearing, stated, “This weakness is not about death but over the glory of God – in order that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
“The glory of God”. “The Son of God may be glorified” through “this weakness” of Lazarus. Given all that John has reported in the preceding ten chapters of his biography, Jesus is the Son of God and “the glory of God” is the glory of the Father who sent him. Does Lazarus matter to God?
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Please re-read the above extract. He did not answer the prayer of the three people whom he “loved” --- because he “loved” them. Was that really so? “The place where he was” was on the other side of the river Jordan from Bethany and Jerusalem. Lazarus and Co were in Judea where some had attempted to stone Jesus to death.
Later, after this, he states to the disciples, “We may go into Judea again.” The disciples state to him, “Rabbi, the Jews are now seeking to stone you, and you again go down there?” Jesus replied, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not crash, because he sees the light of this world. In fact, if anyone walks in the night, he crashes, because the light is not in him.”
No, it’s not self-interest keeping him from going to Judea. He “walks in the day”. It’s not what we would call the twelfth hour for him. He will not “crash”. “The light” is in him.
How could he truthfully state this? You and I – we both – know thar, before long in Jerusalem of Judea, he would be crucified to death. How can he say that “he does not crash”?
He said these things and, after this, he states to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go away in order to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be saved.” In fact, Jesus had spoken of his death. In fact, they thought that he states about the sleep of slumber.
It seems that Jesus’ disciples – understandably - are all anxious to avoid going to Judea. If, as Jesus had stated, Lazarus is merely sleeping there’s no need for them all to risk their lives.
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"Lazarus has died, and I rejoice…” For Jesus, something extremely important about the actual death of Lazarus made him say, “I rejoice”. It was this. It had taken place “in order that you may believe”. Jesus will soon bring back Lazarus from being four days dead in the grave.
So Thomas, the one called ‘Two-fold”, said to the fellow disciples, “And we may go in order that we may die with him.” . “Thomas” has two viewpoints. He “may die” in going with Jesus. But he still goes with Jesus to Bethany. Does he trust Jesus into death?
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