Lazarus (Part 2) – Delayed, But Not Denied!

Read John 11:1-16

This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation”, with our mini-series on “The Miracles of Jesus.”  Let’s pick up the story of Lazarus where we left off yesterday.  Jesus received word of Lazarus’ sickness and responded by saying,  “This sickness will not end in death.  No, this sickness is for the glory of God.  This has happened to bring glory to the Son of God.”  Jesus’ declaration reveals the end of the story.  But a lot would take place between that statement and the Father being glorified.

Once again, this family was no stranger to Jesus.  They had a close relationship with Him and the Bible says that Jesus loved them.  That being the case, we would expect Jesus to either rush to the house to heal him or simply speak a Word of healing from a distance.  Either way, our expectation of Jesus in this case is to provide immediate healing.  I would think He would want immediate relief for a family He loved.  However, despite their closeness and Jesus’ obvious love for them, Jesus stayed where He was for two more days.  He never spoke a word of healing and He did stop what He was doing.  

To understand Jesus’ 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.  Jesus’ foreknowledge afforded Him the confidence to rest in faith.

At the right time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”  The disciples were apprehensive about going back because there was an attempt on Jesus’ life the last time they were there.  Jesus was not afraid of the danger, so He led His team back with confidence in God’s protection.  As they were preparing to go back, Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus is now sleeping, but I am going to wake him up.”  The disciples replied, “Lord, it’s good that he is sleeping.  If he sleeps, he will get better.”  Jesus was not talking about natural sleep.  His disciples, once again, totally misunderstood Him.  He 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.  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.  Because now you will believe in me.”  Not only was God to get the glory, but this miracle would aide the disciples in their quest from doubt to belief, from fear to faith!  The disciples’ heads must have been spinning.  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, “Let’s go!“

We will stop here for today.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  Delay is not Denial.

a)  Just because something does not happen when you want it to, it does not mean it will NOT happen.

b)  Mary, Martha and Lazarus all expected the sickness to be dealt with as soon as Jesus received the message.  But in this case, their watch was not set to God’s timing.  As a result, they did not get what they wanted, WHEN they wanted it.  In the end, God was glorified.  Their breakthrough was delayed, but it was not denied.

c)  Don’t get frustrated when God is not moving as fast as you want Him to.  Many things have to align before He can release His best.  Take it from me, when God finally does it, you will understand why it took so long and you will be glad it did.

2.  God will never go back on His Word, He will always accomplish everything He said He would.

a)  Humans can say one thing and do another.  Humans can fail.  Humans can flat-out lie!  God is not a human.  If He said it, He will perform it.  If He promised it, He will make it good! (Numbers 23:19).

b)  Jesus had already said that the sickness would not end in death.  Lazarus was dead.  Therefore, the situation was not over.

c)  If God told you that you will come out on top, and it currently does not look like you are winning, then it is obvious that the battle is not over.  It won’t be over until you win!

3.  Foreknowledge of what is to come gives you peace in the present.

a)  Jesus already knew how the story was going to end.  His foreknowledge gave Him peace when Lazarus died.

b)  When God reveals to you what the end of the story is going to be, you can maintain your peace in the middle of the story, when it gets worse before it gets better!

c)  Once God has spoken to you about the outcome of a thing, and you believe it, never allow what you SEE to change what you BELIEVE.  Things may get worse before they get better, but you must continue to believe God!

Closing Confession:  Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me.  You love me with an everlasting love, You made plans for me before the world began, and You are committed to those plans.  As I walk out my life’s purpose, I keep my eyes stayed on You and my watch set to Your timing.  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 in my life.  Everything You do in me, for me, and through me, is all done for Your glory.  I am on this planet to make Your name great!  I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.