![]() ![]() The friendship between Jesus and Lazarus demonstrates the depth of friendship that even the Son of God needed while here on earth.1 There was a man named Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister, Martha, and he was ill.Ģ It was the same Mary, the sister of the sick man Lazarus, who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair.ģ The sisters sent this message to Jesus, 'Lord, the man you love is ill.'Ĥ On receiving the message, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death, but it is for God's glory so that through it the Son of God may be glorified.'ĥ Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus,Ħ yet when he heard that he was ill he stayed where he was for two more daysħ before saying to the disciples, 'Let us go back to Judaea.'Ĩ The disciples said, 'Rabbi, it is not long since the Jews were trying to stone you are you going back there again?'ĩ Jesus replied: Are there not twelve hours in the day? No one who walks in the daytime stumbles, having the light of this world to see by ġ0 anyone who walks around at night stumbles, having no light as a guide.ġ1 He said that and then added, 'Our friend Lazarus is at rest I am going to wake him.'ġ2 The disciples said to him, 'Lord, if he is at rest he will be saved.'ġ3 Jesus was speaking of the death of Lazarus, but they thought that by 'rest' he meant 'sleep' ġ4 so Jesus put it plainly, 'Lazarus is dead ġ5 and for your sake I am glad I was not there because now you will believe. Friends help us, especially when we are in pain. Friendships include sharing, playing and laughing, as well as sharing our sorrows and difficulties. Sound emotional health must include good friendships. ![]() The New Testament often uses the word ‘kinship’ to describe bonds among the faithful. ![]() The Bible tells us a great deal about the divinity of Jesus including his preaching, his healing, his miracles and his resurrection, but because he was also fully human, Jesus felt the power of friendship as well. Lazarus and Jesus had a close friendship before Jesus raised him from the dead. The resurrection of Lazarus also foreshadows the death and resurrection of Christ. The story of Lazarus tells us that Jesus has power over life and death. It was witnessed by Lazarus’ sister, Martha. Jesus enters the tomb and performs a miracle, raising Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus arrived back in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Jesus experienced genuine grief since he was human and divine. Shortly after, Jesus learned of Lazarus’ death and was devastated, as any friend would be. When Jesus learns that Lazarus is ill, he stays in Bethany two extra days, but he then leaves for Jerusalem. Lazarus is the only individual character in the fourth Gospel explicitly acknowledged by name as Jesus’ friend. Their relationship was close enough that when he was sick, his sisters sent for Jesus with the message, “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.” - John 11:3. This friendship existed long before Lazarus became ill. Jesus and Lazarus had a special friendship. True friendship provides us with support, love and enjoyment and is nothing short of a gift from God. God wants us to have relationships - not just of the marital and familial kind but deep and abiding friendships as well. In fact, stories of friendships are demonstrated throughout the Old and New Testaments. The Bible is full of fascinating stories about human relationships, including friendships. ![]()
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