42 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

So the sisters sent to Him, saying, Lord, he whom You love [so well] is sick. (John 11:3)

This scripture records the message which Martha and Mary sent to Jesus when their brother Lazarus was sick.

Lazarus was a good man, a friend of Christ and yet he fell sick! So then sickness is not a sign that God is displeased. People whom the Lord loves can also fall sick but their sickness will turn for the glory of God.

Jesus knew that He would raise Lazarus from the dead, so why did he shed tears?

Jesus wept (John 11:35)

When Jesus said, “Take away the stone” (John 11:39), Martha actually protested, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days” (John 11:39), which indicates that she did not really believe that Jesus could raise her brother from the dead

It was because of this unbelief of "friends" whom He "loved." He was spiritually saddened - "groaned in the spirit" (John 11:33) There He was, fast approaching the cross, and even His close friends didn't fully believe in Him.

Throughout Jesus' ministry, the one thing that He preached and demanded above all else is that people believe in Him. The lack of such faith in Him by those closest to Him was a source of profound sadness for Jesus.

Chapter 11