2025/04/06 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION

Fifth Sunday of Lent

- Christina Oropeza, Director of New Member Engagement

John 11: 3 - 6 

So the sisters sent word to him saying,  
“Master, the one you love is ill.” 
When Jesus heard this he said, 
“This illness is not to end in death,  
but is for the glory of God,  
that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 
So when he heard that he was ill,  
'he remained for two days in the place where he was. 

Every time I reread the story of Lazarus; I’m struck by the above passages. Here, we see the interplay of Jesus’s humanity and divinity. His humanity in his close friendships and the emotion he displays when he arrives in Bethany – compassion for those grieving and deeply troubled at his friend’s death. These are all feelings we can resonate with. Whenever I feel a wave of grief related to my mom’s passing, I am comforted knowing that when I talk to Jesus, He sees my situation with a similar closeness.  

In verse 6, we read that Jesus waited 2 more days, after receiving the news of Lazarus’s illness, to go to Him. Here is where we see His divinity on display. He knew He had the power to heal Lazarus and prevent his death, but He chose to wait - highlighting a greater purpose. Jesus sees above our human view of a situation so “that the Son of God may be glorified through it (verse 4).” Scripture commentary on these verses calls out Jesus’s purposeful delay, thus illustrating how His timeline does not adhere to ours, but to the will of God.  

Are there things in your life you are struggling with? Consider how you approach these obstacles in prayer – working to let go of our timelines or desired outcome(s) to the situation. Instead, can you more give them over to God and His will, knowing He will show His care for you and bring glory through your situation.