17. (a) What urgent message does Jesus receive while preaching in Perea? (b) What shows that Jesus is aware of the purpose of the action he must take and of the timing of events?

¹⁷ The urgent message is from Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus, who live in Bethany of Judea. “Lord, see! the one for whom you have affection is sick,” the messenger relates. “This sickness is not with death as its object,” answers Jesus, “but is for the glory of God, in order that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” To accomplish this purpose, Jesus deliberately remains where he is for two days. Then he says to his disciples: “Let us go into Judea again.” Incredulously, they respond: “Rabbi, just lately the Judeans were seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” But Jesus is aware that the remainder of the “hours of daylight,” or the time that God has allotted for his earthly ministry, is short. He knows exactly what he must do and why.​—John 11:1-10.

21. To what is the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus a prelude?

²¹ So it is that by delaying his arrival in Bethany, Jesus is able to perform a miracle that no one can ignore. Empowered by God, Jesus resurrects a man who has been dead for four days. Even the prestigious Sanhedrin is forced to take note and pass a death sentence upon the Miracle Worker! The miracle thus serves as a prelude to an important turning point in Jesus’ ministry​—a shift from the period when “his hour had not yet come” to the time when “the hour has come.”