October 7, 2020 -- John 11:2-3 -- Death Defeated
/So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
John 11:2-3 English Standard Version
Wait. Lazarus dies though. So what does Jesus mean? He means “this illness does not lead to death’s triumph”. That will be obvious as the story unfolds. You need to let the Spirit work the narrative to its conclusion. You must ask these sorts of questions and trust that the LORD of Glory will make Himself known through Jesus—Who is the Radiance of the Father’s Glory.
It is a passage that has come up before, and it is so relevant again:
It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
Proverbs 25:2 English Standard Version
When there are things you don’t understand, think on them. Pray about them. Ponder them. Ask Christians whose walk with God you admire, ply them with questions until you understand and are presented with the next mystery of faith to unravel and learn from.
As Christians we know death does not triumph. Jesus Christ has conquered the grave and even death itself is led captive by His resurrection glory. Christians can be fearless in our witness to the people in our circle of family, co-workers and friends. We can be fearless in our carrying Good News to the ends of the earth. Death does not triumph! God is in charge! That is the glory the Son of God has revealed.
Jesus, Glory of the Father and Glorious in Your Own Right—blessed are You and True. As I read Scriptures move me to study and to pry open the truths You have planted in them as treasures. Thank You for the clear teaching You are the Way, the Truth and the Life—no one comes to the Father and the joy of salvation except through You. Spirit of God, increase my capacity to know Jesus, to obey Him and rejoice in Him—all this to the Glory of the Father, Who determined before the foundation of the world to bring many sons and daughters to the glory of belonging to Him. Amen.
