So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (John 11:3-4ESV)
Jesus’ answer here is similar to the one He gave in John 9 in that in both instances these situations were orchestrated to reveal the works of God.
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3,ESV)
Thinking of this man as a little boy and perhaps asking his mom why was he blind? What a perfect answer to give even a little one...even me, Father, when I wonder the same thing about my own circumstances and situations.
It is because God wants to work in and through even this. Jesus points them away from the why and on to the idea of what God can do in and through this. I liked what Spurgeon said about these verses:
“Whenever you see a man in sorrow and trouble, the way to look at it is, not to blame him and inquire how he came there, but to say, ‘Here is an opening for God’s almighty love. Here is an occasion for the display of the grace and goodness of the Lord.’” (Spurgeon)
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