When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

—John 11: 1-44

What I Have Learned from Lazarus:

1. Lazarus was loved by Jesus.
Jesus wants a special relationship with each of us. Do you feel loved by Jesus? Do you sense God's presence in your life? Do you know His calling on your life? His direction? Jesus loved Lazarus, just like He loves us. Lazarus was very special to Jesus. How do I know this? Because Lazarus's sisters sent word to Jesus commenting the "one you love" is sick. Mary and Martha knew Jesus loved Lazarus by his actions toward him, his friendship and his attention. Lazarus must have been teachable, a good listener and also a good friend to Jesus. Lazarus showed by his actions how much he loved Jesus, too. Are you showing Jesus how much you love him by your actions, attitude and obedience?  

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. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."
—John 11: 2-3

2. Jesus was Lazarus's friend first, then his savior.
What I love about this is that Jesus loves to meet us at our needs first. In fact, he teaches this through Paul. Look at the many examples in His Word of healing, feeding and restoring people. Jesus knows that if our physical, emotional and mental needs are met first, then He can minister to us spiritually. Thank you, Lord, for always meeting ours needs first. For filling our bellies, listening to us, giving us friends, paying our bills, etc.

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." His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
—John 11: 11-13