Scripture
John 11:3
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
Sermon Summary
During His ministry, Jesus loved to stay in Bethany because Lazarus and his family lived there.
Matthew 26:6-7 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
The woman who poured perfume on Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew is assumed to be Mary, and Mary, Martha, and Lazarus all resided in Bethany. Seeing that the scripture refers to Lazarus as “the one you love,” we can naturally guess that Jesus shared a very special and close relationship with these siblings.
However, the text states that the one Jesus loves is sick. Wait, out of all people, can someone whom Jesus loves so deeply fall ill? Yes, they can. We get sick too. Many people struggle to accept the fact that they have fallen ill. Christians are no exception to this. In fact, Christians often find it even harder to accept.
James 5:13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
The “you” referred to in this verse represents Christians. Christians also face trials and suffering during their lifetimes. Does that mean God no longer loves them? Absolutely not.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Even the Apostle Paul was sick. Yet, Paul confessed that his weakness was where Christ’s power rested. God is pleased through us even in our sickness. Then why do we leave the church when we fall ill? That is a strange theology. We must remember that God is the Almighty One who holds the power to both allow us to be sick and to heal us.
The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 14, Article 3 This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; may be often many ways assailed, and weakened, but gets the victory: growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance, through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.
Our faith can be assailed and weakened in many ways. Illness can certainly be one of those assaults. Even so, it never means that God has abandoned us. Even the people Jesus loves fall ill.
My suffering can become a means to glorify God. Whether I am healthy or sick, successful or poor, no matter what condition I am in, God receives glory through me. If I am facing suffering, my hope should be that God’s glory will be revealed through it. Instead of feeling discouraged and blaming God when we are sick, let us change our perspective and think this way: “An opportunity for God to receive glory has come!” Let us hold onto that opportunity by His grace. My weakness will become God’s glory!
Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
David was a man deeply loved by God. But is that David still alive today?
1 Kings 1:1 When King David was old and well advanced in years, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him.
1 Kings 2:10-11 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
Even David, who was a man after God’s own heart, grew old, fell ill, and died. Death eventually approaches all of us. Sickness can come upon us too. It is not strange or abnormal for us to have illnesses. It is okay to be sick. Rather, let us use it as an opportunity to draw even closer to the Lord!