John 11:4

 John 11:4 says. This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.  When Jesus heard this, He said that the sickness was not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified by this situation.  We know as we continue to read the story that Lazarus was physically dead, but we also know that His spirit lived on.  Some would interpret what Jesus said to mean that God caused Lazarus to die so Jesus could be glorified by raising him back to life.  I don't believe this.  God did not need to manipulate events for Jesus to be glorified.  Some would say that Jesus had the ability to physically see the future since He said that the sickness wasn't to death, but I believe He was just in close spiritual contact with the Father and was assured of the outcome.  We must accept the fact that Jesus was fully human, with the limitations of any human, or make Him less than what He said He was.  He was not playing the role of a human but was indeed a man.  When we go to Christ with our concerns, we want Him to act immediately. We can say the same of spiritual sickness today, if we accept the gift of salvation from Christ.  It is not unto spiritual death, if we call on Jesus for forgiveness.  Our salvation is not for our own glory, but for the glory of Christ. Verse five adds, Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.  We are told that Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, but He loved them no more than He loves you and me. Verse six continues, When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.  Jesus stayed where He was for two days.  We would think that if Jesus loved them that He would have left immediately to heal Lazarus.  Jesus was not here just for physical healing, but for spiritual healing, and Mary and Martha had to put their trust in Him, no matter what.  The same is true today.  We must abide in faith in Christ, even if the answer we are looking for does not come.  Jesus loved them, but no more than He loves everyone.  There are no favorites for God's love.  We should never expect God to do more for us than for any other Christian.