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Prelude to the seventh sign miracle

Text: John 11 : 1 -16

PRELUDE TO THE SEVENTH SIGN MIRACLE

When Jesus performed His first sign-miracle in Cana of Galilee, only His disciples had knowledge of this sign-miracle. John recorded the response of the Disciples.

“This beginning of signs Jesus did in
Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory;
and His disciples believed in Him.”
John 2:11

Jesus performed many other sign-miracles not recorded in John’s Gospel, though allusions or references were made to them. Nicodemus, an important Pharisee who was also a ruler of the Jews, and was a highly reputed teacher in Israel (John 3:1, 10), acknowledged the significance of the sign-miracles Jesus performed. He said,

“Rabbi, we know that You are a Teacher
come from God, for no one can do these
signs that You do unless God is with him.”
John 3:2

If it were possible, Jesus would have much preferred it if people did not need sign-miracles to aid them in their faith in God. He said sadly,

“Unless you people see signs and wonders,
you will by no means believe.”
John 4:48

Despite the many signs that Jesus had already given, the Jews demanded that He gave them even more conclusive signs.

“What sign do You show to us, since You
do these things?”
John 2:18

“What sign will You perform then, that we may see it
and believe You? What work will You do?’
John 6:30

Their demands were spurious and foolish! Even if Jesus had performed just one miracle, if they were fair-minded like Nicodemus, they would have concluded that Jesus must have been sent from God. Even the erstwhile blind-from-birth man could say,

“If this Man were not from God, He could
do nothing.”
John 9:33

The Jews had failed to comprehend the significance of the sign-miracles that bore bold witness to the identity to Jesus. But what about the Disciples? How did they fare? The seventh-sign miracle of Jesus was given even more careful attention as far as presentation was concerned. John showed Jesus deliberately orchestrating this miracle in order to teach His Disciples deep and vital spiritual lessons.

AN IMPORTANT VIEW-POINT CONCERNING ILLNESSES

The Disciples of Jesus had seen the great power Jesus possessed. He could heal anybody. He could heal by saying a word, without even having to see the person. That was what He did when He healed the son of a nobleman (John 4:46-54). On another occasion, He healed a paralytic (John 5:1-9). In the most recent event, Jesus seemed to have outdone Himself when He gave sight to a man born blind (John 9:1-7). What other lessons had the Disciples learned about the significance behind the sign-miracles?

The stage was well set for Jesus to teach His disciples deep and important lessons concerning Himself.

“Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany,
the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
It was that Mary who anointed the Lord
with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair,
whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters
sent to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom
You love is sick.’ “
John 11:1-3

With careful deliberation, John gave important details about this family. Obviously, this family was particularly well known and loved. Thus the sisters could actually send messengers to inform Jesus that Lazarus was sick and seriously so.

The response of Jesus was truly remarkable. He said to His Disciples,

“This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God,
that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
John 11:4

He had taught His Disciples a very similar lesson when He healed the man who was blind from birth. Then He said,

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,
but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”
John 9:3

This perspective concerning illness was remarkable as it was unique! There was a human standpoint. It was not invalid, but neither was it meant to be the predominant factor! When the human factor is featured, it only seeks healing as the end-result. Surely that was the reason why Mary and Martha informed Jesus that Lazarus was seriously ill. The intended but unstated meaning was obvious. Would Jesus come to heal Lazarus, before it was “too late”?

Jesus’ perspective was quite different. The glory of God, the works of God His Father were in His mind. He was in absolute control of the situation. Could the Disciples see that? His sign-miracles were to be understood as the works of God that He was sent to do. The main concern should be the glory of God! The focus was God, not man, even if he was suffering, even if he was at the fringe of death. Jesus wanted His disciples to know that He was the Son of God. No one needed to fear death, when he believed in Him as the Son of God! What a profound perspective!