This is not the end

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

“Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” John 11:4-7, 14-15

Thinking some more about Lazarus, Mary, Martha and Jesus, I decided to reread the story in John 11. I noticed something in verse 4 that caught my attention in a way I’ve never noticed before this reading. Jesus said “This sickness will not end in death.” But, we all know Lazarus did die. In fact, when Jesus was clearly planning to open the tomb, his sister explained to the tardy Jesus that he smells bad! Lazarus did die, but the operative word in Jesus little statement is “end.” Death is not the end of Lazarus’ story! He died. Then Jesus brought him back to life on this earth again. And this brings glory to God! Of course, Lazarus has died again since then.  

There is hope here for all of us. Death comes to each of us, but it’s not the end of the story for any of us. After death is the resurrection. All who have followed Jesus will live! Jesus was glad Lazarus died, so that He could raise him up again. The purpose: “so that you might believe” that He has power over death. Again, Glory to God.

All this applies to you too. Death is not the end of your story, or your child’s. All who have died in Jesus are alive, more alive than ever. When your sorrow is the heaviest, ask God to give you a glimpse of what Jesus meant when He said: “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory…”