You’ve Got a Friend in Me

John 11:1-54 (May 20)

"You've got a friend in me. You've got a friend in me. You got troubles; I've got 'em too. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. We stick together and see it through, 'cause you've got a friend in me.

This is a story of friendship, of expectations, disappointment, and gratitude. Today's scriptures discuss something very dear to us all...relationships. This scripture also gives us a detailed account of Jesus' last recorded miracle before he went into hiding with his disciples.

We all have that friend (or at least I pray you all do). You know the one...always there when you need them. All you have to do is call and they come running to your aid. They make you feel special and important, and that friendship really means something.

This is where we find Martha, Mary and Lazarus. They are dear friends of Jesus, and he has stopped by to visit with them many times. They consider him pretty special, and whenever he comes, Martha goes a little "wonkers" trying to make everything perfect. (How many "Marthas" are reading this today?) Always worried about perfection. Always walking around with a perpetual "to do" list that must be completely checked off before we feel worthy of breathing air. Martha (and those like her) don't really understand the concept of rest.

My husband is what I call a "napper". He can take a nap ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. Me... not so much. In fact, if I accidentally fall asleep in the daytime, it messes up my whole day. The "Martha" in me can't grasp the concept of taking that daily rest. The "Mary" in my husband appreciates the stillness.

Mary, on the other hand, could care less if the meal is ready or the house is in good order. She just wants to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him speak.

Lazarus is his pal. You get the sense that there is a brotherhood there. Like there is nothing they wouldn't do for each other. (Now, that's my kind of friend!)

But on this particular day in our story, there is no rest, only sorrow. Lazarus is sick, very sick, and his sisters are calling for help from Jesus.

"Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick." (John 11:3) This scripture identifies the close bond between Jesus and Lazarus.

Here is a question for you... where they calling for help from Jesus because he was their dear friend who loved them? Or was it because they were confident in his healing power?

These three knew of all that Jesus had done. After all, they were some of his closest friends. They had this relationship of value and felt confident that Jesus would come and take care of the problem.

Jesus threw a little hitch in their expectations when he didn't come immediately. "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of Gob may be glorified through it."

Martha couldn't understand why Jesus didn't come if he loved Lazarus like he said he did. Did their friendship mean nothing to him? Was their brother not even worthy enough for Jesus to help?

They just didn't get it. What they couldn't grasp was that Jesus loved Lazarus... so much so that he found him worthy to be used for a miracle.

Don't we all want to be that worthy? Guess what, my friends... WE ARE!!!

Jesus waits two days before he returns to Judea. His disciples are worried because the last time he was there, the people tried to stone him to death.

By the time Jesus got there, Lazarus had been dead in the tomb for four days. There was a large group of Jews with Mary and Martha, offering their comfort to their broken hearts.

Martha ran out to meet Jesus, saying, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." She is sad that Jesus was not there to save her brother, but there is still that hope within her because she KNOWS who her friend is and what he can do.

Sometimes, HOPE, especially in our times of sadness and sorrow, are all we have to cling to. Our hope in Christ is the anchor in our seas of bitterness and sorrow. On that day, Martha had hope.

She runs back home to let Mary know that Jesus is close by, and Mary runs off to meet him. People see her and follow her. When she sees her friend Jesus, she says basically the same thing to him that Martha did. Jesus asks to be taken to the tomb, so she takes him.

Scripture says when Jesus saw her and the others weeping, he "groaned in spirit and was troubled." I have sat with friends who were sad and weeping. I have felt their pain and been troubled for them. I am sure you have experienced the same thing. Often, I have felt their pain and cried with them.

That is just what Jesus did at the tomb that day. Jesus wept. When everyone saw him weeping, they said, "See how much he loved him!"

Lazarus was worthy of Jesus' tears. SO ARE YOU! We are so valuable that Jesus gave his life (story to come) for each of us. Don't waste that precious gift by not realizing your worth.

Jesus instructed them to take away the stone. Martha was a little hesitant, because he had been dead for four days and she was pretty sure he would be a little stinky. Do you have people in your life that will help you, even in your "stinky" times?

But Jesus reminded her he had told her if she believed she would see the glory of God. So, he cried out, "Lazarus, come forth!" Out stepped Lazarus, covered in graveclothes, and Jesus ordered that he be freed from the cloths and let go.

Can you imagine the celebration? Can you just hear the shouts of joy and wonder? What relief and deep gratitude Mary and Martha must have felt! Having a brother, I know how I would feel if I were in that position. "Thank you" would NEVER be enough!

Who are your people? Who are the ones in your life who see your worth, even when you don't? Who would cry with you, then rise you up out of your tomb of darkness and set you back on your path again?

Look around and take note of those people. Thank God for them. And if you are having trouble recognizing who those friends might be... remember that Jesus is always there, and he says, "You've got a friend in me."