John the apostle wrote how, “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 you love is sick”, and in chapter eleven and verse four of his book John shared how Jesus said, “this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God” where we read:
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.
The verse reads, “When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, …” John began with the words, “When Jesus heard that” which means “at the time and moment the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation perceived, understood, noticed and discerned that Lazarus was sick”, “he said” or “Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “this sickness” which means “the illness, lack of strength, weakness and feebleness within Lazarus” “is not unto death” or “does not exist as a sickness that leads to separation of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended”, “but for the glory” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover toward the praise, honor, splendor and brightness” “of God” or “belonging to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. John shared how Jesus “heard” the message about “Lazarus” being “sick” and declared that this “illness” was not toward “death”, but for the “praise and honor” which belongs to “God”.
The verse goes on to say, “... that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” John continued with Jesus' words, “that the Son of God” which means “so God's Son Jesus” “might be glorified thereby” or “would be praised, extolled, magnified and celebrated by way of Lazarus' sickness”. John shared how Jesus said Lazarus' illness was also to “glorify” Him.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus responded to the news that His friend “Lazarus” was “sick”. He told those around Him that the “sickness” was not toward “death” but for the “glorification” of God and Himself. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to be the “Savior and Lord” of everyone, and only those who believe and trust in Him will be saved. God gave Jesus opportunities to “glorify” Himself and His Father so people would yield their lives to Him and thereby be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Let all who read these words understand the purpose of Jesus working in Lazarus' illness.
Next time John shares how, “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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