John 11:3-7
So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss here is the profound trust embedded in the sisters' message. They don't explicitly ask Jesus to come or heal Lazarus; they simply state, "he whom you love is ill." This simple statement implies a deep confidence that because Jesus loves their brother, He will want to know and will act accordingly.
Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus, has fallen gravely ill. His sisters, Martha and Mary, send word to Jesus, not demanding He come or heal him, but simply stating the desperate situation: "Lord, he whom you love is ill." This message is sent in hopes that Jesus, recognizing the deep affection He has for Lazarus, will be moved to action, even though they later express doubt that He can prevent death itself.
Why did Martha and Mary use a specific word to describe Jesus' love for Lazarus? It reveals a unique depth in their relationship.
The sisters' message, "Lord, he whom you love is ill," uses a particular Greek word for 'love' (phileo). This word speaks of deep affection, fondness, and the love shared between close friends. It's distinct from the word 'agape,' which often describes unconditional, divine love.
This choice of word highlights:
Did the sisters expect Jesus to miraculously heal Lazarus? Their message is simple, yet powerful, revealing a subtle form of faith.
The sisters’ message is remarkably concise. They don't explicitly say, 'Come and heal him!' Instead, they state the problem: 'he whom you love is ill.' This approach reveals a sophisticated understanding of prayer and faith:
Understand the original words
thanatos · Greek Noun
The state of physical existence ending in the cessation of life; spiritually, it is the result of sin, which Christ ultimately overcomes through His own resurrection.
doxa · Greek Noun
The manifestation of God's presence, majesty, and divine attributes to His creation; it is the ultimate aim of all creation and redemption.
Huios tou Theou · Greek Noun phrase
A title affirming Jesus’ unique, eternal relationship with the Father; it signifies His deity, divine origin, and role as the perfect representative of God to humanity.
agapaō · Greek Verb
A term describing the highest form of selfless, sacrificial, and covenantal love; it is the nature of God's love toward His people, distinct from mere emotional affection.
The message from Martha and Mary reflects a deep trust in Jesus' love and power, implicitly asking for his intervention without explicitly demanding it. Their reliance on Jesus' affection underscores the personal nature of their relationship and their belief in his ability to help, even when the situation seemed hopeless.
c. AD 25-30
Jesus' Ministry in Judea
Jesus frequently traveled to Jerusalem and the surrounding areas of Judea for festivals and teaching during his public ministry. Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, was a place where Jesus and his disciples often stayed, forming close relationships with Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary.
c. AD 28-30
Growing Hostility in Jerusalem
As Jesus' popularity grew, so did the opposition from religious leaders. During this period, there were several instances where leaders in Jerusalem sought to arrest or even stone Jesus, making travel to and from Judea increasingly dangerous for him and his followers.
c. AD 30— this verse
Lazarus Falls Ill
Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, becomes gravely ill. His sisters, Martha and Mary, recognizing Jesus' deep affection for their brother and believing in his power, send a message to him, who was staying across the Jordan River at the time.
c. AD 30
This passage describes Jesus' intimate friendship with Mary and Martha, highlighting the deep personal connection Martha and Mary shared with Him, which is echoed in their plea for His help when Lazarus is sick.
John 11:21-27Martha's conversation with Jesus after Lazarus' death directly relates to this message, as she states 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day' and affirms her belief in Jesus' power, showing the faith underpinning their initial message.
John 11:35The shortest verse in the Bible, 'Jesus wept,' directly follows the account of Lazarus' death and burial, powerfully illustrating Jesus’ deep love and sorrow for His friends, the very love Martha and Mary appealed to in their message.
Romans 8:28The statement 'all things work together for good' resonates with the sisters' situation, as even Lazarus' illness and death, though devastating, ultimately served God's purpose for His glory and the demonstration of His power.
Philippians 2:5-8This passage speaks of Christ's humility and willingness to come down to humanity, mirroring His response to His friends' distress. Though He had divine knowledge and power, He still engaged with their suffering out of love.
barnesJohn 11:3: "Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick."
Whom thou lovest - John 11:5 . The members of this family were among the few special and intimate friends of our Lord. He was much with them, and showed them marks of special friendship Luke 10:38-42 , and they bestowed upon him special proofs of affection in return. This shows that special attachments are lawful for Christians, and that those friendships are especially lovely which are tempered…
calvinJohn 11:1-10: "Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha."
- And one named Lazarus was sick. The Evangelist passes on to another narrative, which contains a miracle eminently worthy of being recorded. For not only did Christ give a remarkable proof of his Divine power in raising Lazarus, but he likewise placed before our eyes a lively image of our future resurrection. This might indeed be said to be the latest and concluding action of his lif…
What's easy to miss here is the profound trust embedded in the sisters' message. They don't explicitly ask Jesus to come or heal Lazarus; they simply state, "he whom you love is ill." This simple statement implies a deep confidence that because Jesus loves their brother, He will want to know and will act accordingly.
Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus, has fallen gravely ill. His sisters, Martha and Mary, send word to Jesus, not demanding He come or heal him, but simply stating the desperate situation: "Lord, he whom you love is ill." This message is sent in hopes that Jesus, recognizing the deep affection He has for Lazarus, will be moved to action, even though they later express doubt that He can prevent death itself.
Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus, has fallen gravely ill. His sisters, Martha and Mary, send word to Jesus, not demanding He come or heal him, but simply stating the desperate situation: "Lord, he whom you love is ill." This message is sent in hopes that Jesus, recognizing the deep affection He has for Lazarus, will be moved to action, even though they later express doubt that He can prevent death itself.
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Jesus Delays His Journey
Despite the urgent message, Jesus intentionally stays two more days where he was. He explains to his disciples that this sickness will not lead to death but is for the glory of God and the Son of God, indicating a divine purpose behind the delay.
c. AD 30
Jesus Travels to Bethany
After the two days, Jesus decides to travel to Bethany, despite the known dangers and his disciples' warnings. He arrives to find that Lazarus has already been dead and buried for four days.
"So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Ma…" — What's easy to miss here is the profound trust embedded in the sisters' message. They don't explicitly ask Jesus to come or heal Lazarus; they simply state, "he whom you love is ill." This simple sta…
