God’s way with Lazarus (1) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick.
John 11:3

God's way with Lazarus (1)
The eleventh chapter of John's gospel contains a report of one of the greatest miracles performed by Jesus Christ on earth. A man named Lazarus lived with his two sisters, Martha and Mary, in the small village of Bethany almost two miles east of Jerusalem. Jesus had an especially amicable relationship with them. He was a welcome guest there with His disciples. One day Lazarus fell seriously ill. The two sisters informed Jesus of their concern in moving terms: "Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick." They knew how the Lord loved their brother.

Even today everyone who has a living relationship with Jesus as his Saviour and Lord must surely know that He loves us with a deep, firm and unchangeable love. But how do we react when our world suddenly falls apart? Like this family, when our prayers are apparently unanswered or the suffering does not end?

When Jesus heard of the trouble, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." That illness was to result in God's glory, not in death.

What can Christians learn from this today? It is not God's intention that suffering should torment us and make us unhappy, but prove beneficial in revealing God's glory to us. In suffering particularly we experience the love of God. "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God" (Romans 8, 28).

(to be continued on Monday)