Here's the timeline:
Start at the end of the previous chapter to see where Jesus was when He got the message that Lazarus was sick:
John 10
40And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
He was at Bethany-across-the-Jordan.
Where was Lazarus located? This verse tells us:
John 11
18Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off
This map shows that the city of Bethany was located right next to Jerusalem.....Jesus was a day's journey away in Bethany-across-the-Jordan.
http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/C...esus-Year1.gif
The messenger comes to tell Jesus that Lazarus is sick...then this verse tell us that He stayed for two more days:
6When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
Let's do some math now.....it takes the messenger about a day to get the message to Jesus, Jesus lingers for 2 days then travels another day's journey to reach the family in Bethany. We are at the four day mark now.
When Jesus arrives there they tell Him that Lazarus has been dead at least 4 days:
17Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
We can now conclude that Lazarus was already dead by the time that the messenger got the news to Jesus and Jesus knew it, He even tells that to the Apostles:
14Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
So Jesus did not refuse, nor delay to come to heal him....Lazarus was already dead. The good news tho is that Jesus did come and raise him from the dead