John 11:11-16, Dying With Jesus

11 After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him." 12 The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." 

Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus has died figuratively (fallen asleep) and then literally (Lazarus has died). In saying he has fallen asleep, Jesus rightly infers that he will recover his consciousness after death. Then he repeats that he is glad he was not there so others will believe. The pain of the family will be replaced by a deepened faith for all who witness Jesus’ great sign. 

Unwittingly, Thomas pronounces what all who follow Jesus will encounter: dying with Jesus. Jesus said, “You must pick up your cross and follow me.” Bonhoeffer writes in The Cost of Discipleship, “When Jesus calls a man to follow him, he bids him come and die.” Jesus will use the death of Lazarus to bring glory to God. He will use your death to self for the identical purpose. 

Pray to the Lord about dying to yourself by picking up your cross to follow him.