Day 3 — Lazarus: Suffering and Glory
In the raising of Lazarus, the forgotten character is often Lazarus himself. He is the one who suffers through sickness. He is the one who dies. It is Lazarus’s body that lies in the tomb for four days.
We often focus on the sisters, yet it is Lazarus whose life is restored.
What does this miracle reveal? Jesus tells us in John 11:4:
“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.”
Lazarus does die, but death will not be the final outcome of this illness. Jesus will raise him.
Lazarus suffers so that God may be glorified.
Read that again: Lazarus suffers so that God may be glorified.
In the margin of my Bible, next to John 11:4, I have written this question: “What might I experience for the sake of God’s glory?”
I will be honest: I do not eagerly anticipate suffering. The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus, but that does not mean suffering itself was pleasant.
I do not want to be deeply sick so that the power of God can be mightily displayed. I do not want to feel drained of hope and life so that the goodness of God can shine brightly.
Lazarus suffers so that God can be glorified.
That may be hard to swallow, but it does not deny the goodness of our God. The same Jesus who allows this suffering loves Lazarus and his sisters.
God works for our good and his glory. That work can include using the suffering of his saints to deepen faith and spread the good news. We may not always see how he is working, and we are not promised that every illness will end as Lazarus’s did.
But we can trust that our suffering is not beyond God’s power or care.
The question I wrestle with today is simple to ask and difficult to answer: Am I willing to suffer for the sake of God’s glory?
What is your answer?
