Is there something redemptive about pain, suffering and even death? The answer is yes! Satan is looking to kill and destroy but God can use those same circumstances to reveal His glory. 

 

“But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”” (John 11:4, NASB95)

 

Consider the earlier account of the man born blind when the disciples asked who sinned, “Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3, NASB95) Our weaknesses bring us to a place of crying out for the strength of God to be revealed, and then God reveals Himself.

Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha were deeply loved by Jesus. There was an intimate friendship between all three that had grown to the point that Jesus preferred to stay with them when He was visiting Jerusalem. The sisters had sent word to Jesus about their brother’s sickness, which must have been significant enough to call Jesus to come to them. Was Lazarus sick because of personal sin or rebellion? Would Jesus let Lazarus die as some sort of sick object lesson? No! Jesus loved Lazarus.

 

And yet, Jesus’ response to the call for help seems a bit puzzling. “This sickness (literally weakness) is not unto death, but for the glory of God that the Son of God may be glorified.”  Jesus does not mean that this sickness is not fatal because Lazarus does die. But the real meaning is that it will not end ultimately in death but a resurrection form the dead for God’s Glory. This is not about God getting some kind of praise for raising the dead, but to prove God’s Glory which is His self-revelation of power and presence through His Son Jesus.  The raising of Lazarus would give to man resurrection hope. The Glory of God may be revealed in our healing but for sure the Glory of God is revealed in the resurrection of the believer.

The Apostle Paul said it best, “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NASB95)