Self-centeredness and loving others had always been
oppositions to me. I always thought that you can’t truly love others when you deeply
think about your own personal image. However, GOD is really weird. He
harmoniously maintains His passion for His personal glory and His passion for
our personal gain. I will try to illustrate this using a very familiar story.
1Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." 4But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." 5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. (John 11:1-6)
The Sandwich
Lazarus and her two sisters are very close to the heart of
the Lord. Christ’s love for them is in verse 3 and Christ’s love for them is in
verse 5. And there is a sandwich: Christ’s love in verses 3 and 5 sandwiches the
glory of GOD in verse 4.
The So-Dilemma
Verse 6 will give a dilemma for the critical reader. Most literal Bible translations initiate verse 6 with a “so” or with a “therefore.”
“So” implies a transition from reason to outcome.
- I studied hard so I passed.
- I was soaking wet yesterday so I am sick today.
- Anna loves pink so she wears pink almost daily.
Verse 5 is then most likely the reason for the outcome in
verse 6. I, therefore, paraphrase, “Christ intensely loves the three SO, when
Lazarus was dying, He made sure that he would die (He stayed two more days).”
If you think I am implying that it was Christ’s very love for them that wanted
Lazarus dead, then you got my point. Jesus loved Lazarus much SO He wanted him
dead.
The Love that Wanted Lazarus Dead
This was a problem to me and I believe it still is a problem
to some. The problem arises primarily because of our poor definition of love. For
most people, to love is to desire no harm for the loved. But true love is much
more than just desiring no harm – it is desiring the highest possible good for
the loved. And there is no higher possible good than GOD Himself. Jesus, in His
love, wanted Lazarus dead because He wanted them to see the glory of GOD (verse
4). I strongly believe that these three whom Jesus loved never had a weaker
faith after seeing this display of GOD’s glory. They had received a gift
infinitely more valuable than life from the One who loves them much.
GOD desires to show us His glory. And His glory most of the
time shines the brightest when our pits are the deepest. He Himself digs these
pits and He Himself puts us in the deepest. And when He finally decides to show
His glory, He will shine the brightest. He loves to show His glory because He
loves you and wants to attract you to Himself. He loves you much and may
perhaps want you dead.
Well written article and quite insightful. Thanks for sharing. May God continue to use you.
God Bless!!
Thank you very much. You caused me much joy today.