Not unto death !

John 11: 4When 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.

 

 This seems for us that know the story a bit strange. Especially when we know the rest of the story. Even Jesus himself said in verse 14 ”Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” Seems contradictory at first glans… First he says that this sickness is not unto death, and then he says plainly that Lazarus is dead.  According to the timeline it also seems like Lazarus was already dead when the messengers came back to Martha and Mary. They greeted them with what they thought was the good news from Jesus; “this sickness is not unto death.” They must have been puzzled when they heard he was already dead. 

Did Jesus miss it? Had they misunderstood him? Did they hear wrong?

 

They did not hear wrong or misunderstand, this was exactly what Jesus said. But he didn’t say Lazarus would not die, he only said this sickness is not unto death. In other words, death does not own this situation. Death is not in charge or in control of this sickness. Even though there is some stink already, the promise of Jesus is still more powerful than death itself. 

But before Jesus could do the miracle, they had to role the stone away, and let him do it.

 

Some of you have rolled a stone over some promises, and settled with the thought that I guess it was not meant to be. Let me remind you: Hell is not in charge of your situation. Jesus is. You need to role the stone away and pray one more time. Let the enemy know that this situation is not unto death. Death has “owned” this situation long enough. Stand on the promises of God. 

 

Some people have allowed death and hell to “own” their issue and problem. There is already a stink there. A stink of bitterness. A stink of doubt. A stink of rebellion. What they need to do, is to role the stone of doubt, bitterness and rebellion away and let Jesus make sure that their issue is not ending in a dead faith. Too many people will go to hell over situations that Jesus never meant should lead to death. Maybe they never heard the good news or report from the messengers. Maybe they didn’t believe it. Maybe they refused to let go of their bitterness or doubt. And they end up going to hell, because they never rolled the stone away so the life giving, and life transforming words of Jesus could speak into their lives.