Albert Barnes Commentary John 11:3

"The sisters therefore sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." — John 11:3 (ASV)

Whom you love (John 11:5). The members of this family were among the few special and intimate friends of our Lord. He was much with them and showed them marks of special friendship (Luke 10:38–42), and they bestowed on him special proof of affection in return. This shows that special attachments are lawful for Christians, and that those friendships are particularly lovely when they are tempered and sweetened with the spirit of Christ. Friendships should always be cemented by religion, and one main purpose of those attachments should be to aid one another in the important work of preparing to die.

Sent to him. They believed that he had power to heal him (John 11:21), though they did not then seem to suppose that he could raise him if he died. Perhaps there were two reasons why they sent for him: one, because they supposed he would be wishing to see his friend; the other, because they supposed he could restore him. In sickness we should implore the help and presence of Jesus. He alone can restore us and our friends; he alone can perform for us the role of a friend when all other friends fail; and he alone can cheer us with the hope of a blessed resurrection.