Lazarus’ death was no doubt hard on Jesus. Not because he couldn’t do anything, but because he knows what we are going through, and he knows what God is doing.

We don’t know what sickness Lazarus had, but Jesus knows all, knew all, and knew these days were coming. He got word of Lazarus’ sickness and the report that he was close to death. His response was “this will not END in death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

There are many things to learn here – Jesus could have prevented the illness. he could have stopped the death from happening – But God was at work and cared in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Well, Lazarus died and most likely by the time Jesus “got word” he actually was already dead, because he stayed where he was 2 days and then made a 2-day trip and Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. But on the way, Jesus said, “I’m on my way to wake him up.” Whatever you go through, believe that Jesus is ON the Way.

I just want to focus on one thing here. In v21, Martha comes to Jesus and entreats him honestly, gently, “Lord, IF you had been here (THEN) my brother wouldn’t have died.” She says “if” and the “then” is implied. This was HER understanding, but If death was God’s plan and for his glory, THEN it would have still happened IF Jesus had been there. But then she continues, “Yet, even now I know that whatever (if) you ask from God (then) God will give you.” And Jesus answers, “your brother will rise again.”

There was disagreement in their day among faithful Jewish people about “The Resurrection of the Dead”. Some believed in it, others did not. So Martha states her theologically correct position, “I know that he WILL rise again in The Resurrection at the Last Day.” But she is saying, “I have an IF and a THEN for the future but I want and IF THEN for NOW.”

And then Jesus responds with his own IF / THEN… “I am the Resurrection and the Life. (IF) The one who believes in me, even if he dies, (then) will live. Everyone who lives and (if) believes in me (then) will never die. Do you believe this? And Martha says, “Yes Lord… I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”

Well… interesting response, but ultimately GREAT. Martha isn’t quite sure what this answer means pertaining to her brother here and now, BUT she’s got her faith set on Jesus, her eyes fixed on Jesus, bringing her troubles to him, and that’s Great. We don’t always understand what God is saying, what he is doing, but if we can focus on HIM.

Then it continues, “having said this, she went back and called her sister…” It’s also interesting that Mary comes to Jesus and says the same thing. Only Mary had fallen to her knees, was weeping, and it’s all she could get out. The crowd, not from the same faith position, also speaks among themselves a similar “If/Then” but from a position of incredulity rather than faith. And the mixture of feelings, knowing all, knowing the positions they were all in, he is deeply moved. I’m sure a huge stew of emotions the Savior felt.

See this, for now, our “if/then” is not always accurate, nor always in God’s plan. However, IF he is the Son of God, THEN we can still come to him with our understanding, our requests, our hurt; we can trust him, we can believe in him, and we can live by the Greatest “if/then” – that is, IF I believe in Jesus – This will not end in death. Death will likely come, but it will not be the end of the story. If we believe in Jesus, Then LIFE is the End of our Story, Eternal Life – that is where we are heading, through every door, every trial, every struggle, come to Jesus, TRUST Jesus, Believe in Jesus – HE is the Resurrection and the Life –

Do you Believe This?