Lazarus
Open Your Bible
John 11:1-18, John 11:28-44, 1 Corinthians 15:12-18, 1 Corinthians 15:55
BY Bailey Gillespie
Lately, I’ve been considering how necessary it is to have friends. Long distance friends are great, of course. It’s crazy that we live in a world where we can pick up a device and have a real-time conversation while living on another continent, or even a mile away. But there’s something essential about the everyday friends you can text last minute when your car engine dies. Friends you can grab ice cream with on the hardest of days. Friends who don’t mind lingering in the living room because you both just really need to talk—about that one guy or interview or the latest book you bought on Amazon.
Christians often say that all we need is Jesus. While I understand where this sentiment comes from regarding Jesus, Scripture all tells us that our Triune, relational God created us for relationship (Genesis 1:26; 2:18), calls us His friends (John 15:15), and asks us to be His own hands and feet (1 Corinthians 12:4–12, 27). So, although it’s true that “Jesus and…” doesn’t accurately reflect how salvation works, it does reflect how community works. Even Jesus didn’t choose to minister in isolation. He allowed people to provide Him with food and relational support. Even Jesus had His own set of friends, one of them being Lazarus.
We don’t learn much about Lazarus firsthand from Scripture. We never “hear” him speak. Instead, we learn about him through the words and emotional responses of his sisters and his friends. “Lord, the one you love is sick,” said Mary and Martha in a concerned message about their brother (John 11:3). Jesus is equally troubled when he hears that his close friend has died. His emotional reaction gives away the depth of His affection, as the Jews watch tears fall from Christ’s face (vv.33–36).
You see, the centerpiece of this story isn’t Lazarus—it’s Jesus. The whole story is funneled through the lens of Christ’s love. Our Savior, the One who gave up life itself for three days, first experienced what it was like to give up His own friend. He was well-acquainted with loss, an experience that allowed Him to sympathize with us on a visceral, human level.
Revisiting the sentiment “All we need is Jesus,” maybe a better way to look at it is this: “Jesus is the only way to salvation, but we need each other to flourish in our God-given identity.” It’s not as snappy, but at least it’s true.
Remember that Jesus calls you His friend. You know that one person who will sit with you in your pain until you’ve exhausted every word in the English language? Or the one you can steal away to your favorite hiking spot with? Not only is Jesus your High Priest and Redeemer, but He is also that sort of friend.
68 thoughts on "Lazarus"
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I’m not very good at keeping “lifelong” friends. While I may keep tabs on people I went to high school and college with through social media, none of them are true friends. Certainly I have lots of acquaintances that I can chat with in social situations, but I lack a friendship described in the devotional. I moved way from all of my friends with my husband to a new state over 16 years ago. Even though I have lived here all this time, I have found it very difficult to make and keep close friends. I very much long for that sort of friendship in my life. Being a mom lives little “me”’ time.
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I am exactly the same. Sadly I have few friends like you said.. “true friends.” A couple of people I read their posts on social media and think “oh that’s nice.” Or “I remember that” But no one I really talk to every day or think “oh my gosh I have to text so and so right now and tell them this.” I feel you. I hate it, actually. I’d love someone to be best friends with. And honestly there’s no real reason why.
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I think this is a hard thing I’m dealing with now. I have friends in different states and countries, but none in my city. I’m working on finding friends, but there is a lot of rejection and failure. I keep praying that God helps me develop some friendships where I am at.
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Wow ❤️
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Know some people struggle with friendships and relationships— often feeling lonely and confused as to why everyone has someone yet they have no one. This is not reflective of your worth or your love, you with Jesus are complete. I do hope you are able to find those that lift you up but even if you don’t, you are so beautiful & wonderful and our Lord loves you so much. This world places such an emphasis on friendships and relationships that we often settle & take toxicity we do not need. You are more than a partner or a friend, you are a child of God and you are given His grace no matter who surrounds you.
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❤️
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My husband experienced a radical healing 6 years ago and since we’ve been focused on serving. Finding there’s never a shortage of people to pour into. Now the Lord has opened our eyes to the fact we were choosing to be around those who mimic our families, takers. While pushing away healthier individuals. We have no extended family relationships due to sexual abuse that was outed and refusing to emotional abuse.
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Please pray I learn to be a healthy friend, give and take.
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I’m a single, introverted 30 year old. I don’t have the kind of close friend described in today’s devotional, though I long for it. Growing up as an only child and even into adulthood I always had a best friend, up until about 8 months ago. Slowly, over the years, my friendships have changed…some friends moved, some were caught in sin and pushed me away like my most recent best friend (she is not a believer, though I pray for her salvation).
I am thankful that I have quite a few friends in different circles, and some I’d even consider a close friend when we are together, but none who considers me a best friend. None who is a go-to person when I see something that makes me laugh, or want to spontaneously go to the lake, or who I can talk deeply about spiritual things. They already have their own best friends and spouses and it seems there’s just not room for me too, though I’ve tried.
I used to think this was reflective of my worth. Like there must be something wrong with me. I must be unlovable, or a defective person who can’t make and keep friends. But God in his kindness has revealed those as lies. Lies I secretly believed for too long. Lies I sometimes feel creeping back and trying to get me to believe again.
I don’t know why I lack the close friendships I desire, but I choose to trust God when he says he sees me, loves me, and I am valuable to him. I am more content in Jesus and in who he made me to be than ever before. I pray for him to bring me a friend (and a husband while he’s at it!) but trust him no matter what. And I continue to pray for the friends and acquaintances I do have and look for opportunities to serve others.-
Thank you for sharing! I feel the same and appreciate the perspective you brought.
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Community. Can I just be super honest? I’m an assistant pastor’s wife and don’t know what it’s like to live life in community. I often feel very alone in my walk as a believer, a wife, and a mother. My husband is the best there ever was, and is such an amazing sounding board for all my Bible nerdiness, but I do not know the joy of deep spiritual friendship. I have friends and they are amazing believers, but we rarely connect over spiritual matters. My husband is interviewing at a new church next week, and as it’s always been hard for me to form deep friendships, my prayer is that I will find a sisterhood of women to do life with. Pastoral ministry can feel very isolating, and I’m tired of feeling like I have to do life alone. Can you pray with me on this?
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Praying for you, Nadine!
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