Lazarus Fell Ill (Jn. 11:01-16)

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. 3 So the sisters sent word to him, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” 4 When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 He said this, and then told them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” 12 So the disciples said to him, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.” 13 But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. 14 So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. 15 And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go to die with him.”’

This was Jesus’ most significant miracle in that it manifested “the glory of God.” and the power of His Son.  The high priest Caiaphas prophesied that it would be better for one man to die for the people to save the nation (Jn. 11:49-53).  The Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, was involved in the decision to have Jesus killed.  

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to attend the Passover Feast (Jn. 11:55; Lk. 22:8) and to fulfill God’s plan of salvation.  Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were close friends of Jesus and they lived in Bethany, a village in Judea located about two miles from Jerusalem (Jn. 11:18).  Mary was the one who had anointed Jesus’ feet with oil and dried them with her hair (Jn. 12:1-8).  The synoptic Gospels also recorded Jesus being anointed with costly perfumed oils (Mt. 26:6-13; Mk. 14:3-9; Lk. 7:36-50).  The anointing is commonly interpreted as preparation for Jesus’ death and burial.  Martha and Mary sent a messenger to tell Jesus that Lazarus was ill, but they did not ask Jesus to come to Bethany maybe because it was common knowledge that the Jews were trying to kill Jesus.  

When Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, he did not immediately go to Bethany.  He told his disciples that Lazarus’ illness was not to end in death, but it was to manifest the glory of God and demonstrate the power of the Son of God.  It seemed contrary to reason that if Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus he would not go to visit them immediately to heal Lazarus.  Jesus had previously restored people to life immediately after they had died (Mk. 5:22-43; Lk. 7:11-16).  Jesus waited two days before inviting his disciples to go back to Judea with him.  The disciples were concerned because the Jews in Judea had been hostile towards Jesus and had previously attempted to stone him (Jn. 10:31).

Jesus used a metaphor about day and night to tell the disciples that the light of the world was with them now and they must continue with the work he had entrusted to them regardless of the danger.  When he has left them, they will not have the same opportunity to walk in the light of the world.  Jesus told them that he was going to awaken Lazarus who was asleep, but they misunderstood him, so he plainly told them that Lazarus had died.  He explained that he did not go to Bethany before Lazarus had died so that they may believe in his identity and authority.  Jesus would demonstrate that he had the power over death even if someone had been buried in a tomb for a while.  Thomas told the disciples that they should all go with Jesus so that they might die with him.

Almighty God, your Son raised Lazarus from the dead showing that he had power over death.  In your love for your children, help us to trust in you and walk in the light of your Son as we continue the work you have entrusted to us.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.