Glory of God!

Jn.11:4, ‘When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”’

 Usually whenever we read this passage, we understand that God’s greater glory was revealed through resurrection of Lazarus. For the dead came back to life and that too after four days, when there was absolutely no possibility for this in any human wisdom reasoning. Jesus Himself said that the sickness which had come upon Lazarus was not for death, but for glory of God.

But if we carefully read this passage, we see His glory not only when Lazarus was raised to life but all through this episode. Any aspect, thought, behavior, attitude or anything that displays His divine attributes or character displays His glory. Anything that happens in a God’s child’s life is in His knowledge and for His glory. Though it’s difficult to understand at times, there comes a time when God opens our inner eyes to behold it and be filled with awe for Him.

•  11:5-6, ‘Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.’ We see here that inspire of the fact that Jesus was informed about the sickness of Lazarus, he stayed two more days in the place where He was. It was not because of lack of love or concern, but for a specific reason which would manifest His glory. Today we are waiting eagerly for the answer of our prayers and we see that its getting delayed. Yet if we truly understand that the delay has a divine purpose and continue to wait patiently, we are manifesting His glory. For understanding His silence with great patience and submission is a divine attribute.
•  11:27^{, ‘}She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” When Jesus finally reached Mary and Martha’s house, Martha met him and said that had Jesus been there, Lazarus would not die. Martha was sad that Jesus was not there to stop her brother from dying but yet her belief that Jesus was indeed the Son of God was firm and strong. Today, many are falling away from grace on the grounds of unanswered or delay in getting answers to their prayers. But let us be reminded that even when the answers might be delayed or unanswered in His will, His love for us continues to be the same. Martha’s prayer for her brother was not answered at the time she earnestly desired for. Yet, her belief in Jesus was firm. This belief and trust in Jesus manifests His glory indeed.
•  11:35-36, ‘Jesus wept. ³⁶ Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” Jesus, being God Almighty, all knowing and all powerful, knows the end of every life from the beginning. He purposely delayed His going to house of Lazarus. He knew that He would resurrect Lazarus. Yet when He saw Mary and other Jews crying over the demise of her brother, Jesus wept. Being holy, His tears and sorrow was not fake. He could understand their crushed heart very well and Him being the supernatural God did not stop Him from identifying with the sorrow of man. His weeping was sincere and His sharing of their burden was indeed sincere. Such a marvelous act where we see our creator weeping with us when we weep is a beautiful and mysterious act which manifests His glory. Today, when we cry and are crushed in heart, unable to express our agony and pain to the world around, the Lord sits right beside us weeping with us and comforting us, sharing our burdens. If we are assured of this great presence and love of our Lord, we are manifesting His glory.
•  11:38, ‘Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.’  Jn.11:41, ‘……And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ‘ V 33 and V 38 speaks about Jesus groaning in Spirit. In V 41 He thanked God for hearing His prayer. Rom.8 : 26 speaks about praying in Spirit in groanings which cannot be uttered. Jesus interceded as He went to do the great miracle. Being the Son of God, He pointed out to importance of deep intercessions behind great miracles. He manifested the power of prayers. He laid an example to others around of how prayers can do wonders. He displayed how He interceded in Spirit even while He was interacting and responding to people around.
•  11:43-44, ‘Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Jesus again finally manifested the final phase of His glory of this episode – calling out the dead to life and loosening him to be free. None other than the One who has power over death and life can do this.

Hence, we see His glory being manifested in this episode of death of Lazarus, not only in the end, but all through out. His glory is seen:

– In understanding delays with divine wisdom, unwavering faith in the Son of God

– In the unwavering faith in the Son of God, irrespective of the situations

– In the discerning of His presence which comforts us in the crushing times of life

– In understanding the power of prayers and intercession

– In resurrection of the dead in the name of Jesus Christ

Dear friends, God called us and sanctified us to be fruitful. As we bear fruits of His Spirit, we display His character and His glory. This is possible in every situation of our life. May His glory be seen in and through our lives for His kingdom purpose.

God bless us all.