(John 11:15 NIV) “and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
This morning we continue this mini-series “Lessons from Lazarus.” Before I do I want to say that yesterday I had to take another early morning flight and in my haste, I somehow forgot to provide a closing confession to the message yesterday. Well, many of you let me know about it and that actually blessed me. You let me know how important that closing confession/prayer was to your daily routine. Rest assured, that will not happen again. So let’s get back to the story:
Yesterday we found out that Jesus received word of Lazarus’ sickness and responded by saying, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus’ response actually revealed what the ultimate outcome would be. Although sickness had creeped into the lives of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus; God would ultimately get the glory out of the situation. Another key facet to this story is that these people were no strangers to Jesus. They had a close relationship with Him and the Bible says that Jesus loved them. Common sense would tell us that Jesus would jump to action as soon as He found out that Lazarus was sick. He could either rush to the house to heal him or simply speak a Word of healing from a distance, like He had done for the Centurion’s servant. Yet in spite of their relationship and in spite of His love for them, Jesus stayed where He was for two more days and never spoke a Word of healing. To understand His actions it is important to remember that He already knew, by revelation, what they outcome would be. He saw the end of the story from the beginning. This foreknowledge afforded Him the confidence to rest. For us, even when we don’t have the same level of foreknowledge that Jesus did, when we believe what the ultimate outcome of our situation is going to be, then even if it gets worse before it gets better, we can rest, but our rest must be attained BY FAITH!
At the right time Jesus told His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” The disciples were apprehensive about going back because the last time they were in that area there was an attempt of Jesus’ life. Jesus ignored the danger and went anyway. Jesus then said, “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, however, was not talking about natural sleep. His disciples, once again, had no idea what He was talking about. So Jesus went on to explain the situation plainly. Jesus said, “Lazarus is dead.” Whoa! What a twist. Jesus had already said that the sickness would not end in death and that He was going to wake him up, but would the reality of the present death make Jesus out to be a liar? Had Jesus missed it? Did Jesus finally make a mistake? Absolutely not! We will see, as this story unfolds, that everything He said would come to pass.
Jesus then unveiled another by-product of the situation. He said, “… for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.” Not only was God to get the glory, but this miracle would aide the disciples in there quest from doubt to belief, from fear to faith! The disciples’ heads must have been turning. They were thinking about sleep and death, the glory of God and Lazarus, the danger in Judea and their unbelief, and with all of this going on Jesus said, “But let us go to him.” Thank God for the BUT! This changes the mood of the story and shifts us closer to the miracle. So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Delay does not mean Denial.
2. God will never go back on His Word, He will always accomplish everything He said.
3. Even if your situation, your dream, your marriage, your children… are seemingly dead; God can still interject a BUT and turn your hopeless situation around!
4. There is nothing too hard for God!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You that delay does not mean denial. You love me like You loved Lazarus. You hear my prayer like You heard the request of Mary and Martha. You know the end from the beginning like Jesus knew the end of the matter. You will act, in Your timing, to bring about total deliverance and restoration in my life. Everything You do in me, for me, and through me; is all done for Your glory. I am confident that You best will happen in my life and no matter how long it takes, and no matter how bad the situation gets, I refuse to relax the grip I have on my faith! Forward ever… backward never! I enter this day with great expectations! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
