Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. (John 11:5-6 ESV)
Clearly, the relationship between Jesus and Lazarus and his sisters was something special. It stands to reason, then, that when Lazarus fell ill, his sisters naturally thought of Jesus, their friend, the one who’d healed a boy in Capernaum and a lame man and a blind man in Jerusalem, to mention just a few. Surely, he’d be able to restore their brother to health.
So they sent him a message: “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” They knew that Jesus loved Lazarus, and they knew that his love would guide his actions.
It’s a little word that gives us pause -- “So.” Jesus’ love for Martha and Mary and Lazarus was unquestioned. The surprising thing is what his love for them prompted him to do: he loved them, “so… he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”
This little word means a lot. It means that Jesus waited for two days, not in spite of his love for Lazarus and his sisters, but because of his love for them. And because Jesus’ love is always perfect, it means that waiting for two days before going to Bethany was the most loving thing he could have done.
And consider this: Jesus knew that Lazarus’ illness was terminal. He knew that his delay would result in his friend’s death - and his friends’ grief. And still, he tarried… because of his love for them.
Jesus told his disciples, “This illness… is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Ultimately, everything in this situation -- Lazarus’ illness, his death, his sisters’ sorrow -- was ordained by God to bring glory to himself and to his Son.
But it was also motivated by Jesus’ love for them and, therefore, was for their ultimate good.
This is really good. Your last statement is very telling, "Even in the midst of difficult circumstances...." It's so much easier to believe this when everything seems "right."
ReplyDeleteBelieving this truth in the midst of trial, or temptation, is like (in my mind anyway) the P90X "insanity workout" for your faith. It's difficult, it's not fun to go trough it, but you know that there is an ultimate benefit so you keep going. It's good to speak this truth often when things are good, so that when the difficulties come we are more prepared to exercise our faith in truth. Habakkuk 3:17-18 is an example that comes to mind. This is a hard truth, but I am thankful that it's true!