John 11:3 Commentary and Bible Study

It is a very simple message that the sisters send – ‘Lord’, so they address him. ‘Behold’, a very flexible word or term in the original. Be aware, you might say. Some translate it, listen, which sounds a little bit rude. But, Be aware, ‘He whom thou lovest is sick.’Well, Christ had a special love for Lazarus, just as he did for the apostle John. He loves all his people and he loves them alike, but on earth it is obvious he must have had especially long conversations with Lazarus. Lazarus was a believer, a very significant believer, who understood the deep things of God, and Christ conversed with him, I assume, often. So the love of Christ was very apparent in the case of Lazarus.Mary does not ask Christ specifically for healing. She does not make specific demands – Lord, be aware, he whom thou lovest is sick. But her petition – or their petition, Mary and Martha, full of respect – leaves it to the Lord and his sovereign will exactly what he will do.