The Book of John contains only 8 miracles and these are all classified as prophetic signs because of their significance. This 7th sign is connected to the 2nd sign of John 4:46 where the nobleman’s son was at the point of death.
John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."
Lazarus means “whom GOD helps” which is certainly appropriate in this passage. Jesus’ ministry had a focus in the town of Bethany (house of fruit, or fruitfulness). HE frequented the town often and had established relationships with many people there. Mary had anointed HIS feet, one of three anointings recorded in the Gospels, on the fifth day before Passover at the house of Lazarus. This occurred at the first of three recorded suppers during Passover week.
John makes it clear that Lazarus and this sisters had a close relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no doubt that Lazarus had heard the Gospel and was a believer. However, he still got sick. The Power from On High had not yet been dispatched among the brethren for the Day of Pentecost was yet to come thus the sisters did not summon the disciples, but Jesus Himself.
4 When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
Jesus would show all mankind the power and authority given unto him by Our Heavenly Father. What greater power is there than the power over death! By the time Jesus would arrive, there would be no question that Lazarus had died.
Just as Daniel was known as “greatly beloved”, Lazarus was known as “he whom You Love”. Jesus did not question or challenge the sisters’ description of HIS relationship with Lazarus. They also knew that HE could and would heal Lazarus, there was absolutely no question.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.
Verse 5 states that Jesus loved all three of this household. In Scripture, “two days” often refers to the two millennia or two thousand year time period of the Pentecostal church age. Jesus knew that Lazarus was suffering unto death but was not moved by his physical situation. What? Jesus loved Lazarus but allowed him to suffer? We often think that suffering is of the adversary and that we should only skim along the high points of life. Our Heavenly Father’s perfect plan, will, and purpose was greater than the temporary suffering of Lazarus. Timing is important. Lazarus’ death and resurrection would play out as a type and shadow of Jesus’ impending death and resurrection, also motivated by Love.
7 Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."
8 The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?"
9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."
He who has the Son, walks in the light. He who is without the Son, walks in darkness. The difference between revelation and darkness is “Jesus Christ” and he was about to show the power and authority one could walk in if he fully embraced the Light of the world.
11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."
12 Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."
13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."
16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."
Jesus knew the physiological state of Lazarus, death, but the disciples had no clue. Can you imagine how Mary and Martha felt? They sought the help of Jesus and He did not immediately respond. Lazarus dies and they had to bury him and go through all the sorrow of losing a loved one. But wait!
17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
27 She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."
28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, "The Teacher has come and is calling for you."29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her,saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there."
32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."
33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said,"Where have you laid him?"
They said to Him, "Lord, come and see."
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!"
37 And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?"
38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone."
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said,"Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."
The power over death is the ultimate display of the Glory of Our Heavenly Father. There is a certainty that is displayed that cannot be challenged by the human mind, it cannot be rationalized by the ego looking for an alternative to the glory. Jesus displayed His Love for Lazarus by resurrecting him from the dead. Jesus’ command of the “God” particles that made up Lazarus resulted in life, not death. HE showed us that death is swallowed up by life and that Love is greater than sickness, disease, and even death.
Jesus is THE pattern son. We need not look to other men as our example but only look at our Lord Jesus Christ to pattern our lives after. We MUST cease in overlooking HIS motivation of Love in these miracles. Love is the greatest attribute HE displayed. Sure, faith and hope are necessary but Love is what brings forth power and authority in a sustained fashion. As we immerse ourselves in the revelation of Love, we will become expectant of miracles in our own ministry as well. The motivation of Love brings forth fruit that even death cannot resist!