Mat 6:27 "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?".

Esta lectura en español (This reading in Spanish): La enfermedad de Lázaro y amistad cristiana.

• Jesus Christ took care of his life (10:39-42).
• Jesus and John: Both baptizing (3:22-36).
• Pharisees, and Why baptized John the Baptist? (1:24-28).

Go to: Bible Course.

Go to: Study of Saint John.

Bible, Complete Study St. John.

By Javier R. Cinacchi (Translate by Ruth B. Vera Castro):
https://www.estudiargratis.com.ar/study-saint-john/friendship-lazarus.html

[READING: Saint John 11:1-6]

The importance of good Christian friendship and illness of Lazarus

To understand completely this text, besides to read the 11 Chapter of St. John, I advice you in like manner to read the previous comment. Study of the Book of St. John (Bear in mind that this text is a continuation of the Study of St. John.)

Joh 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Joh 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
Joh 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
Joh 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Joh 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Joh 11:6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

V.1-3 Lazarus was considered a friend by Jesus (Jn 11:11; Jn. 11:. 33-36), surely it was a good person who made the will of God (John 15:14.). One notices that he was very loved, so, his family loved him, and also Jesus loved him as a good friend. Although Jesus is 100% God, was also 100% human (he got happy, he got sad, he had friends, he ate, drank, etc.).
Punctually in the Gospel of John 11:33, it's understood there was great many people who loved Lazarus; Being a good person and having faith in the Son of God, saved his life.
Many people in the Bible have reached blessings for be loved by others. By having good friends. It's very important getting along and having good friendships.

For example people who benefited due to be loved by others are: - Lazarus raised from the dead.
- The sick man who was brought by his friends on a stretcher and placed in front of Jesus Christ, they climbed on a roof and then fell in the midst of preaching of Jesus. What a good friends and what a faith! That is in the Gospel of Luke. 5: 17-26
- King David was also helped by a friend, Jonathan (1 Sa. 18: 3). While he helped him, found out through a plan made by both, if his father wanted to kill him or not (1 Sa. 20: 1-42). And that saved his life.
And so there are many more cases.

God knows everything, but He moves his hand power to the petitions. God Himself commands that ask to him: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" Mt.7: 7. Within this aspect is also very important to have friends who pray to God for us; God also answers to them!

Regarding the Bethany mentioned, this one was located about 3 Km of Jerusalem, it is mentioned in this study to discuss the Baptism of John. Jesus Christ when was informed about this, he was to a considerable amount of Miles Away (between 30 and 50 km), at Bethabara (the another Bethany). When the envoys were mobilized to bring the news represented an act that demanded a big effort. God knows everything, but you need to seek Him, mobilize yourself (including going to church). And despite the distances short or long, do the will of God.

V.2 It is clarified that Mary, the sister of Lazarus was the one who anointed the Lord with ointment, this occurs in John 12: 1-8, supplementary story of this, is Matthew 1:13 26. As mentioned here, let's see some details. This also happened in Bethany. Here again we can see another act of friendship, good attitude of Mary (the sister of Lazarus the resurrected), for having anointed with perfume to Jesus Christ, who previously announced that he would be crucified. Moreover, we have the worst friend that can exist at the same time, the traitor who is next like a friend, Judas Iscariot. He has a stance of critical to the act of love and offering of Mary, who washes the feet of Jesus and anoints His head, most likely with her best perfume.
About Judas Iscariot, figure in the Bible that he stole the money that used Jesus Christ and His disciples (Jn.12: 6), possibly that's why he criticized the fact that the perfume had not been sold, for in this way steal that money. The worst thing he did was to betray Jesus Christ, being totally blameless, handing it to be killed (already we'll see this when we get into the subject of the crucifixion). Don't be surprised if in your life as a Christian you find several Judas Iscariot in the church, that this is not going to turn off your faith. Pay attention and remember about there good Marias, also deserves to be mentioned. About Mary, who anointed him with perfume Jesus Christ, He said: "Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her." (Mt. 26:13)

V.4 Jesus who knows everything, says it was the will of God, to has been glorified in sickness of Lazarus, when he performed a miracle: the resurrection of a dead on the fourth day. Nobody wants to go through diseases, but there are some diseases that its end is not death, but God may be glorified. Diseases there will be, we're not in paradise. The disease has various causes, such as poor diet, bad habits such as not doing correct physical activity, accidents, sins, excesses, virus, etc. Sometimes God cares for his children in an impressive way, this should motivate you to be better with God, and looking for to be in God's will, but in another times, despite being his children we have to face the disease. In my life I have seen great miracles about God's care, sometimes even I got sick and praying the disease is went, and sometimes I had to face the disease with the help of doctors. Then, everyone has the day and the hour when Jesus Christ comes and will be judged. But I want to not leave the topic, the death of Lazarus happened, but it happened for the purpose of the Son of God be glorified. All this occurred in people close to Jesus Christ who really believed of Him, good Christians, friends, and all of them saw the power of God manifested in an impressive manner because they were stand firm in the faith.

V. 5-6 Jesus Christ wasn't immediately, he waited. How may have felt these people because the friend didn't come at that difficult time? They were mature in the faith, knowing that everything God does is for a purpose. Sometimes it hurts when we feel defrauded, but we should not feel ourselves defrauded by the one who loved us, so much that he gave his life to save us, in fact, for Him wasn't easy to do it. Some Jews had the unbiblical belief that the soul of a person surrounds the body until the third day, but Jesus would be there on the fourth day. He wouldn't solve the problem that Lazarus had, if not after four days of Lazarus's death. Sometimes we see that a problem isn't solved immediately, but this shouldn't cause the decrease of the faith.

Although one is near death; even if we see several Judas Iscariot, even if we are praying to God for a problem and the answer is delayed or something fatal happens: Don't fail to have peace and trust in God. We must do everything necessary; surely Lazarus was treated by medical and also was sought right spiritual support , and God answered according His time, the which one he considered as correct. God is never wrong, even though sometimes is hard assume pains, but then the believer notices that much greater are the joys and the pain has an end. The joy with God is eternal.