Awareness of the Needs of Others

When I was 21 years of age, the husband of a young woman whom I had known most of my life passed

away after a battle with cancer. After his passing, she told me that she was hurt that I had not done

anything to help them. I have no recall of how I responded, but I would think I apologized. She was right. I

had no idea what would help them, and I do not think I made an effort to find out. I was expecting our first

child at the time, and we had purchased our first home. Had she asked me for something specific that I

could have done, I think I would have tried to do it. While I did nothing to help them, she did a lot to help

me. She came to me, just as Jesus directs us to do, and she told me of her hurt. I understand the anger

that comes with grief, but I was thankful that she let me know of how I hurt her.

Even though Martha and Mary did not specifically ask Jesus to come, he must have realized what the

sisters of Lazarus meant by their message: ”Lord, look, the one you love is sick.” John 11:3 NET 

Jesus was so good at seeing and meeting the needs of others. Surely, he would come and heal Lazarus. 

When word comes to him, Jesus clearly states his purpose to the disciples. “This sickness will not lead 

to death, but to God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (Now Jesus loved

Martha and her sister and Lazarus.) John 11:4-5 NET  

It is a good thing that John tells us that Jesus loves Martha and Mary and Lazarus. It is not immediately

evident. Our expectation of our friends is that they will be there to support us in our toughest times.

Imagine what disappointment the sisters must have felt when the one who could heal their brother did not

show up. How would we feel if those closest to us neglected us at the time that we had the greatest

need? It is clear from John 11:11 that Jesus knew that Lazarus has died. And yet, he is not there for them.

Martha comes out to meet Jesus when she hears he is coming, and she lets him know that she believes if

Jesus had been there, her brother would not have died. She says that she believes that God will give

whatever Jesus asks of him. However, when Jesus tells her that Lazarus will live again, she agrees that

he will live in the afterlife. Mary comes out next, and she tells Jesus that, if he had been there, he could

have saved Lazarus. Some of the people who came with Mary to weep said the same thing.  

Jesus weeps with them. It was clear to all around that Jesus loved Lazarus. Interesting. Jesus knew that

Lazarus was going to come back to life. He knew that their sadness would soon be replaced with joy. He

could have chastised them for their lack of faith or their lack of understanding, but he wept with them.  

The disciples who traveled with Jesus believed that he could heal the sick. Mary and Martha believed that

Jesus could heal the sick. But power over death? Hardly. And while Jesus had already raised two others 

from the dead (the son of the widow of Nain and Jairus’ daughter), they had only been dead a short time.

But Lazarus had been dead for four days. While the raising of Lazarus was astonishing, it did not change

the disciples in the same way that Jesus’ resurrection changed them. But without this miracle, one has to

wonder if they would have believed when they saw the risen Jesus or, if after some time had passed, they

would become convinced that it was just a ghost they had seen. Without witnessing the raising of Lazarus

from the dead, would they be equipped just a few weeks later to so readily give their lives for the work of

spreading the good news of Jesus? Remember, right before they had left for Bethany, “Jesus told them

plainly, ‘Lazarus has died, and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But

let us go to him.’” John 11:14-15 NET 

Without seeing that God has power over death and that God’s son has power over death, how would they

ever accept that Jesus freely gave his life to pay the price (death) for sin?

Did Jesus meet Martha’s and Mary’s expectations? No. They had expected that he could make their

brother well. He exceeded their expectations. He raised Lazarus from the dead – after four days in the

tomb. They wanted immediate comfort. He gave them even more reason to glorify the Father. He

prepared them for the coming days. He knew that what they needed most was not immediate healing of

their brother, but a suffering that resulted in bringing glory to God and in the Son of God being glorified.

Because he waited to come, many became believers.  

How often have we looked back on things that have happened in our lives and seen just how the Lord

prepared us for what was ahead of us? The things that prepare us for what the future holds are often not

too pleasant. Toddlers learn to balance and walk, but not without falling down. Muscles are built with

resistance. The father of the prodigal son awaits his return. A caterpillar struggles within the cocoon, only

to emerge as a beautiful butterfly. Sin has stained us, but God offers cleansing through his Son. Death is

replaced with life.

Look what happened! The disciples who were fearful of going into Bethany because of the threat on their

lives would soon be the same men who would be willing to die for Jesus. Hearts were changing. Doubts

were being replaced by belief. Fear was being replaced by faith. God was equipping them. 

What is God equipping you to do?

Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work. -2 Timothy 3:16-17 NET