“When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.””   15-16 “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Note the special insight for our life and death. After Jesus received the message of Lazarus’ death he said, "This sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Then He stayed in that country for two more days. He was on a different timetable than the disciples and family were, because He had a different purpose than the world. 

First His purpose first to glorify His Father in all things.  He obeyed His Father's will. Are we committed to that?  It is not important that we Christians are comfortable, but that we glorify God in all we do.  As we seek to fulfill that purpose in our lives, we will find blessing.

Secondly, God's plan was to reveal in a greater way Jesus' identity. What better evidence that someone is God than to raise someone who had been dead for four days?  There was no doubt what Jesus was attempting to do.  He had them remove the stone so that everyone could see the lifeless body rise to life.  We also see in v. 41,42 that Jesus' public prayer was designed to testify to His divine commission - 41 Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Through this public statement Jesus asserted: 1) that He was one with God and not a son of Satan (as was an accusation). 2) That He was always heard by the Father because their wills were one.  There was no doubt who Jesus was claiming to be - the Messiah, God in human form.

Our life is not vain and empty because Jesus has shown us that there is life eternal. Life is not all for nothing. If there is a goal, there is a purpose. We are not a cosmic accident, but creatures intentionally created by God. We are to live to the glory of God. 

When Jesus announced it was time to go, the disciples were confused. They thought He was staying away from Judea because the Jews were out to kill Him, but Jesus has in mind His ministry to His friends, to His disciples, and to others who will come to faith. Jesus asks them, "Are there not 12 hours in the day?"  If a man chooses to serve God, then that man's day will not end before God wishes it to end.  There is time enough to do whatever God has for him to do, but likewise, one only has 12 hours to do a day’s work for the Lord, so time should not be wasted.  Use it to the fullest and the utmost. 

They also know they walk and work while the sun is up and they can see and not stumble, but Jesus was teaching them more than the obvious. There was a time for work in God's kingdom and when the night comes, then the work is ended. Finish your greatest work of getting your life right with God while you have time, for the time is coming when it is too late and night is here?  The great truth of the gospel is that God so loved the world, but the fact is also true that the love of God may be refused or ignored, and the time will be missed and it will be too late.  Do not put off making the spiritual commitment to God you need to make today.

Thomas response of going to die in verse 16 because he was so convinced that the Jews were going to kill Jesus; it was suicide to go back to the area of Bethany because it was only a 1 ½ to 2 miles from Jerusalem. Thomas was positive they were going to die with Jesus, but he was committed to Jesus even to end.

Application:  Do you seek to serve the Lord regardless of the cost?

Prayer:  Lord, give me the boldness of Thomas here that I might boldly proclaim the gospel to those who need to hear it.  Keep my focus on Your Kingdom work, not earthly circumstances.   

Dale