[2026. 5. 10.] For the Glory of God | John 11:1–16

[2026. 5. 10.] For the Glory of God | John 11:1–16

Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn (Hope of Heaven Baptist Chuch) 

 

2026. 5. 10. 주일예배 설교- 요한복음 강해 31 
본문: 요한복음 11:1-16
제목: 하나님의 영광을 위하여

설교자: 손진국 목사 (하늘소망교회)

 

 

Today’s passage is John 11. Here we find the seventh and final sign recorded in the Gospel of John—the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

This event takes place in the latter part of Jesus’ public ministry, on His way toward the cross. Especially through Jesus’ response to the death of His beloved friend Lazarus, I hope this becomes a time for us to reflect again on what the direction and purpose of our lives must be aligned with.

 

1. The focus of Jesus’ life is to reveal the glory of God.

In today’s passage, a man named Lazarus from Bethany appears, and he was sick. [Verse 1–2] Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)

Bethany was a village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, meaning “house of the poor.” It was the place where Jesus often stayed while ministering in Jerusalem. In particular, the home of Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus was a place Jesus frequently visited and stayed.

The relationship between Jesus and the sick Lazarus appears in verse 3. [Verse 3] So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

Lazarus was someone Jesus loved, yet he became ill. His illness was not mild but critical, since he died only two days after Jesus heard the news. When the sisters sent word to Jesus, they emphasized, “the one you love,” highlighting that the sick person was the one Jesus loved, urging Him to come.

For Martha and Mary, the most urgent need was for their brother to be healed. But Jesus’ focus was not there. [Verse 4] When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

Jesus says this sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God. We must not misunderstand this. This does not mean every sickness we face is “not unto death” or that everyone will be raised like Lazarus. Some illnesses do lead to death.

Today, what we must pay attention to is this: when we face any event, circumstance, or problem, where does our gaze turn? Jesus, through the sickness of the one He loved, focused on the will of God. He asked, “What is God’s purpose in allowing this problem, this event, and this suffering?” and sought to understand God’s will. This was the posture Jesus consistently maintained while living on this earth as a human being.

What did Jesus know and declare through Lazarus’ sickness? He said it was not to end in death but for the glory of God, and that the Son of God would be glorified through it. What does it mean that it is “for the glory of God”? God is the One who dwells in glory and is glory itself. So glorifying God does not mean increasing His glory, but that we come to know the Almighty God, praise Him, and give Him glory.

And that the Son of God would be glorified means that Jesus—who came in human form—would be revealed as the One worthy of glory, the Messiah, the Christ.

As we realize that Jesus lived on earth with His focus on fulfilling God’s will and revealing His glory, may we also live interpreting every event, problem, and suffering through faith, so that God’s glory is revealed and His will is fulfilled in our lives.

[Application] When I face problems, do I focus only on solving them, or do I expect the glory of God to be revealed through them?

 

2. The love of Jesus is deeper and wider than our expectations.

When Martha and Mary sent word to Jesus about their brother’s sickness, what was their heart like? Although not stated in today’s passage, later we see both sisters saying the same thing when Jesus arrived. [Verse 21] “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” [Verse 32] “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Both sisters believed Jesus could heal their brother. That is why they urgently sent word, hoping Jesus would come quickly. They surely believed Jesus would hurry.

Why did they believe that? Because of verse 5. [Verse 5] Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

Jesus loved Lazarus. But verse 6 shows something unexpected. [Verse 6] So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

Instead of going immediately, He stayed two more days. Martha and Mary must have waited desperately, watching for Him. But Jesus did not come, and their brother died.

We experience similar moments. We pray earnestly to the Lord we trust, yet there seems to be no answer. Then we feel disappointment or even resentment: “Lord, how could You let this happen?”

What should we do then?

We must ask: “Why does God sometimes remain silent?” God’s silence has purpose and intention. We must seek and understand it.

In today’s passage, the question is: Why did Jesus wait two days? Did Jesus intentionally wait until Lazarus died? Surprisingly, yes. Jesus waited until Lazarus died.

From a human perspective, this seems shocking. But when we understand Jesus’ intention, our response changes.

Jesus knew God’s plan: that through Lazarus’ death, God’s glory would be revealed and the Son would be glorified. What does this mean? Verse 15 explains: [Verse 15] “For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Jesus waited so that the disciples would believe that He is the glorious God and the Christ.

Here we see the nature of Jesus’ love. Jesus’ love is not the love that immediately solves problems, but the love that builds our faith and fulfills God’s will.

This challenges us deeply. When someone faces difficulty, we often focus only on solving the problem. But Jesus shows us that we must first ask: “What fulfills God’s will in this situation?” “What builds faith in this person and in me?”

Often we act out of emotion rather than faith. True love builds faith and fulfills God’s will.

In verse 7, Jesus says they will return to Judea after Lazarus dies. [Verse 7] “Let us go back to Judea.” But the disciples fear returning to the place where Jesus was nearly stoned. [Verse 8] “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”

Jesus responds with a profound statement: [Verse 9–10] “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

What does this mean? Walking with Jesus—the Light of the world—is the safe path. The life of faith is walking daily in God’s will. That path may be difficult, uncomfortable, costly, and even dangerous.

Jesus’ love does not lead us to comfort but to faith. He leads the disciples back to Judea—a dangerous place—because it is the path of God’s will.

Beloved saints, do not live for comfort. Live to build faith and for the glory of God. Not a worldly faith that seeks success and ease, but a true faith that follows the Lord even when it is hard.

[Application] When God is silent, do I despair or trust? Do I expect Jesus’ love only in the way I want? Even if it is uncomfortable or costly, what must I decide for the sake of God’s will?

 

3. Jesus is the Lord of life and death.

[Verse 11] After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” Jesus describes Lazarus’ death as sleep. This means that for Jesus, death is not the end—it is something He can awaken.

But the disciples misunderstand. [Verse 12] His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.”

They interpret His words physically. So Jesus speaks plainly: [Verse 14] “Lazarus is dead.”

Yet in verse 16, we see they still do not fully understand. [Verse 16] Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

This is the same Thomas who doubted the resurrection until he saw and touched Jesus. Thomas understood that Lazarus had died, but he did not understand what Jesus meant by “wake him.” Yet he shows remarkable devotion: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

At first I thought Thomas’ words were foolish, but considering the situation, his words reveal deep devotion. Returning to Judea meant danger and possibly death, yet Thomas was willing to die with Jesus. Even if he did not fully understand, he was committed to staying with Jesus. May we also have such devotion.

Jesus holds authority over life and death. The faith Jesus wanted to instill in His disciples was to see death—not as the world sees it—but through the One who is Lord over life and death.

Even today, many believers still fear death as the end. They view death through a worldly, human perspective rather than through Jesus, the Lord of life and death.

Through today’s passage, Jesus wants to build this faith not only in the twelve disciples but also in us: faith that sees all difficulties, failures, and even death through the eyes of the Lord.

Faith in Jesus is not only for this life—it leads us beyond death into eternal life. May you live with faith that entrusts everything to the Lord, does not fear death, and lives each day for the glory of God.

[Application] Do I see death, failure, and loss through Jesus’ perspective? Even when I do not understand, do I have the resolve to follow wherever Jesus leads?

 

Through today’s message, we see again the values and direction of Jesus’ life. Jesus lived not according to circumstances but according to the glory of God. He built true faith in His disciples, who would follow Him even unto death, and He led them with a love deeper than their expectations.

Beloved saints, may you live with faith that trusts in silence, obeys in danger, and does not waver even before death.

 

 

하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.

Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.