LEARNING DAILY

John 11:4-5, When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

Mary and Martha had sent word to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, was sick. They wanted Jesus to come and heal him. But Jesus stayed for two more days where He and His disciples were. Read the entire story about Lazarus and you will see that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days by the time Jesus and the disciples got there. Jesus told the disciples that Lazarus had fallen asleep, maybe into a coma, and He would go and wake him up.

I found a really interesting tradition in Judaism that states the soul does not immediately leave the person who has died; it floats around and over the body for three days. The thought is during that time there is hope of the person coming back to life – a resurrection. Jesus arrived in Bethany on the fourth day when resurrection as this tradition considered would no longer be possible. If that is so, the arrival of Jesus was all about His timing and meeting the need in His way. A response to the last page of the blog was sometimes “He has allowed something in our lives to make us stronger or to depend on Him more”. Another response was a reminder of Jesus saying, “Not My will but yours be done”. Jesus told His disciples the Son of God would be glorified through this.

The point being that delays to prayers being answered are not only because of what we have done that separates us from God. If Jesus had come in time to heal Lazarus it would have been a wonderful healing. To get there within the three days of the Jewish belief about the resurrection, God would not have received the glory He desired. On the fourth day, Jesus brought Lazarus out of the tomb, and no one could say anything, but the resurrection was a miracle.

Think through your situation. If God just took it away, just healed you, just improved your situation, would God receive the glory? I mean would you just praise Him and tell others about what He did for you? Or, would you just explain it away as if it had never really been a problem? Do you understand what I am writing, this morning? God wants to be given the credit, the honor, the glory for meeting your need, walking through your situation with you.

Read in verses 20-32 in chapter 11 what Martha and Mary said to Jesus when He got there. Their faith said Jesus could heal Lazarus, if He had been there before he died. Their faith was also mixed with Jesus being able to resurrect him in the “last day”.  Jesus’ response to them (and to each of us) was to trust him; have faith in their hearts and minds that He was able to do all things!

The writing about Lazarus is about Jesus resurrecting him from the dead. In talking to Martha, Jesus uses the statement “I AM”. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of every need, every desire, every hope anyone can ever have. He does not just speak of life; He is the life (verse 25). In John 1:4, John wrote that Jesus was “life, and the life was the light of the men”. The reason for the death of Lazarus was for the glory of God.

I believe what James wrote is appropriate to conclude with. James 1:2-3: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”. I doubt anyone goes searching for trials but when they come, know Jesus is with you. As you go through the trial or situation, keep your eyes on Him, knowing He will search your heart when You seek in order to show you areas you must deal with. Also know when you get through the trial, you must give Him the glory He is seeking for walking with you.