Jesus’ Love, Sickness, Death and Hope

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. The sisters therefore sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” But when Jesus heard it, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”  Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.  (John 11:1-5)

Even though the Lord loved Him, He still was sick. Righteousness protects the soul — not the body from all infirmity. Yes, even though Jesus loved him — he still became sick and died. This is not what the love of Jesus protects of from. This is what the love of Jesus gets us through.

So never think that sickness and death mean that Jesus doesn’t love you — know in the comfort of the hope of the resurrection that Jesus l loves you!

Jesus went to His grieving friends. He cried with them at the cemetery. Then He made a great hopeful promise that all believers ever since have shared:

Jesus said to her, “Your brother shall rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world. (Jn. 11:23-27)

And then He raised His friend from the dead.