“In this world nothing is certain, except death and taxes.” Actually, Ben Franklin was wrong. Some people successfully cheat on their taxes, but none can avoid their own funeral. We might see it approaching, or death may come upon us suddenly. But no other event is so sobering and so final. In John’s gospel, we’ve seen Jesus do some impressive miracles. Yet let’s be realistic: if Jesus can do nothing about death, then whatever else He can do doesn’t really matter. Christ must triumph at the tomb or we will forever be disappointed. We need assurance that He’ll be there for us when we need Him most—that He is committed to us on this side of the grave and beyond. So what do we learn about Jesus as He confronts death in John 11? First, we learn that HIS LOVE DETERMINES DESTINY. When Lazarus becomes sick, a message is sent to Jesus: “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” With their brother at death’s door, Mary and Martha are confident that Jesus will do something about it. They simply appeal to His love. When Jesus receives their message, He announces that this illness is happening for God’s glory. But to everyone’s surprise, He proceeds to do nothing! Though He loves Lazarus, Jesus chooses to let him die. Note: we don’t always understand God’s ways, but we are never ill, and we never die, outside the circle of God’s love (v 1-6). Second, wherever Jesus goes, HIS LIGHT DISPELS DARKNESS. After lingering for two days, Jesus decides to act. The disciples are astonished that He’s ready to put His life at risk by returning to Jerusalem, where people want to kill Him. But Jesus insists that He has work to do and a set amount of time to do it. Just as no one can lengthen or shorten the daylight, the disciples can’t extend the time allotted to Jesus, nor can His enemies shorten it. Each of us has a certain number of days and we shall have them. So don’t waste your daylight! (v 7-16). Third, Jesus wants us to learn that HIS LIFE DEMOLISHES DEATH. By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead four days. The Jewish rabbis taught that the spirit of a deceased person hovers over the body for three days, then departs. So now there would be no doubt, no way of denying the miracle. Martha is hopeful that good may somehow come out of this tragedy, but she has no idea what is about to happen. The drama builds as Jesus declares to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Not just Lazarus, but anyone who believes in Him will be raised bodily on the last day. But there is another sense in which they CAN’T die, for the life of Jesus is unstoppable. If you have Jesus, you have His life, and His life will demolish your death! (v 17-27). For further meditation: