There is a family we meet in the New Testament, known as friends of Jesus. At least one sibling is mentioned in all four gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) accounts of Jesus’ life. While we don’t know a lot about this family, scripture tells us they lived in Bethany (which is near Jerusalem) and there are two sisters, Mary and Martha and one brother, Lazarus (Laz). It seems safe to assume from context, their friendship with Jesus went beyond being passing acquaintances and they knew one another as close friends would. 

 The stories contained in scripture about this small family are ones that many know and are at least somewhat familiar with. There is so much we can learn from this family and the stories about them captured in scripture. Today, I want to focus on the story we find in John 11. Here we find Laz is sick, apparently really sick, since his sisters are worried enough to send word to Jesus. If I were writing this story, I’d write something like “As soon as He heard, Jesus dropped everything and immediately went and healed His friend and they all lived happily ever after.”. But life isn’t a Hallmark movie and that’s not what Jesus did. Jesus sends word back saying “don’t worry this will not end in death but will glorify God (my paraphrase)”. Then He waits two more days before heading back to Bethany. 

There are a couple of things that fascinate me about this story. The first is so subtle, it’s easy to miss. Check out verse 11 “He (Jesus) said this, and then he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep (died), but I’m on my way to wake him up.”. Did you catch it? No one told Jesus Laz had died, He just knew!  Scripture points out that those with him were confused about he was saying. Jesus, being God, knew that His friend had died, He didn’t need anyone to tell Him. Think about how confused those traveling with Jesus must have been. He gets word that His good friend is sick, but He doesn’t rush to heal Him. Then Jesus says “Laz is dead, I’m on my way to wake him up”. Then goes on to say “I’m glad I wasn’t there, so that you may believe”. I can almost hear the disciples saying “umm what?”. Can you imagine the conversation they had on their way back to Bethany? But aren’t we just exactly that clueless sometimes?! We assume Jesus either didn’t hear us, doesn’t care or isn’t working when our prayers aren’t answered immediately and exactly the way we want. We forget that He already knows! 

The story gets even better! When Jesus arrives in Bethany, Laz has already been buried and in the tomb for several days. Again we have to make some assumptions here based on context that more than likely Laz had been dead close to a week before Jesus ever arrives on the scene. Both Mary and Martha, obviously upset and mourning the loss of their brother, question Jesus saying “if you would have been here or come quicker, our brother wouldn’t be dead. You could have healed him (my paraphrase)”. Eventually they make it to the place Laz was buried. Everyone was crying, even Jesus. John 11:35 says “Jesus wept.”. Everyone knows this verse as the shortest in the Bible and it is often quoted because of its brevity. Heck, I’ve done it myself, but reading now I find myself filled with amazement. Two little words that tell us Jesus was so moved with compassion, He stopped to cry with His friends. We have to understand – Jesus didn’t have to weep, he could have said “stop crying and watch this!”. But he didn’t, He paused, delaying his miracle to grieve with his friends. Why would Jesus do that? Why would Jesus allow his human emotions to take over here and not earlier when He could have healed His friend?

What I have learned as I continued to dig and study scripture is that everything Jesus says and does is to teach us and show who He is. Jesus is fully God, but He is also fully man. Jesus feels what we feel. He not only knows, but feels our heartache and pain. He knows our grief, our worries and our doubts. Sometimes, like in the case of Laz, Jesus not showing up in the way we hope leads to an even greater miracle. I came across a quote from Tony Evans about this passage that said “Temporary grief can produce tremendous spiritual impact and bring God greater glory.”. 

Jesus not only understands our grief, but also can use it for even greater glory if we let Him. He felt the emotion of grief Himself, both in this story and in His own crucifixion. I believe He feels our grief even now. We learn and are taught from an early age that Jesus is our Friend as well as our Savior. Friends hurt when their friends hurt, cry when their friends cry and celebrate when they celebrate! I want this in my life. Actually, I am blessed to have these friends in life. However, at times, I need the reminder that Jesus knows and feels my heartache and if I allow HIm and trust Him in the pain, He will use it for even greater glory! 

How about you? Do you call Jesus a friend? Do you know Him as your Savior? Do you need to give Him your grief and heartache today so that He can use it for even greater glory?