Jump Start # 1126

John 11:26 “So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.”

  John 11 records the resurrection of Lazarus from the grave. The chapter is rich with emotion, drama and proof that Jesus is the Son of God. Word came to Jesus that Lazarus, His friend, was sick. Jesus delayed. He waited two days. He knew the day the news arrived that Lazarus had already died. Jesus was doing this to prove a lesson for the apostles. There was a new level that He needed them to believe. He was the greater than the greatest enemy. He held the keys to life and death. He could undue all that Satan did. So Jesus waited. He then traveled on the fourth day to Bethany, the village where Lazarus lived with his sisters, Mary and Martha. It was at this time that Jesus called forth and Lazarus came out of the grave.

Often we do not understand God’s time table. We want God now. We want answers now. We want problems solved now. We want relief now. And God delays. He waits. God allowed Job to sit in silence. The Psalmist wondered where God was. The silence was worse than the pain. For Mary and Martha, they prayed that their brother would get better. He got worse. They hoped that Jesus would come. He delayed. It is at these times that our minds and our doubts tend to take over. We question whether God loves us. We wonder if the silence is a punishment for a wrong we did. We think that God doesn’t care about us. God waits and our faith struggles. Three times in John 11, by Martha, then Mary, and then some of the Jews who came to comfort, the expression, had you been here,’ is used. Had Jesus only come. Had He been there, Lazarus would be alive. Instead, Jesus delayed. He allowed Lazarus to die.

Lazarus experienced the journey of death into the next world. His soul and body separated as James describes death. He entered the room where the righteous dead are. There he suffered no more. There he was comforted. Never to feel pain again. Never to grow weary, hungry or discouraged. There with the Bible greats such as Joseph, David, Abraham and the prophets. He was in the world where there is no darkness, no crime, no fear, and no sorrow. He made it. Lazarus was truly home. For four days he was there. Then, just as suddenly as his death, his soul was demanded back. It was united again with his body and out of the grave he came. Back to the world he knew and had left. Back to this family and back to the limitations of earth. He would need to eat. He would get tired. He would have to work. Lazarus was back. Back from the dead.

It is interesting that there are many conversations between Jesus and Mary. There are conversations between Jesus and Martha. But the Bible records no words of Lazarus. Especially, at this moment, when he returns, nothing is stated. He doesn’t reveal what he saw, felt, heard or was with. We can imagine, but his lips remain quiet. What a contrast that is to the modern books about people who died, claimed to have gone to Heaven, and some how came back. They weren’t resurrected by the power of God. They came back naturally. They report what songs they heard and what people they met. They tell of colorful horses and beautiful images of Heaven. These folks write books. Millions are sold. They become the cornerstone of belief for some. How strange. How strange that NO ONE resurrected in the Bible ever repeated what they experienced. Paul, inspired and chosen by Christ, declared that it was unlawful for him to repeat what he heard when he was taken to the “third Heaven.” Yet all these others today not only do what Paul couldn’t, they write books and make tons of money off the experiences. These accounts do not stand with any Biblical support or evidence. Lazarus never said a word.

We also see that the resurrected Lazarus had to die again. He had to go through the whole process of becoming ill and losing his life. Everyone who was resurrected, had to die again. All that is, except Jesus. He was the first raised to never die again. He is considered the ‘first fruits.’ We will follow, in time. I wonder if Lazarus knew that he was being used to teach the apostles a faith lesson? I wonder if he understood all that was going on? I wonder if things happen to us, not to that scale, by God, to teach others faith lessons?

Through all of this great account of the resurrection of Lazarus, we find Jesus in control. He traveled to Bethany which was only two miles from Jerusalem. The Jews had tried to kill Jesus earlier. He was able to go there without incident. Jesus was in control. With all the emotions around the grave of Lazarus, the questions, the “where were you?” the tears, Jesus was in control. Jesus is always in control.

For Mary, Martha, Lazarus and even the apostles, John 11 reveals events that they didn’t fully understand or know why it was happening. Jesus did. The same happens to us. We often do not understand why things are happening to us. Some things may bring tears to our eyes. Some things may alter and change our lives. We don’t know why. Our prayers may not be answered the way we wanted. Faith triumphs. Faith, trusting in God, is the key. We want to know, but we don’t. We want things a certain way, but they are the opposite. We want things to remain but they change. Faith, trusting in God, is the key. He knows. He will get us through. He never gives up on us.

Faith makes all the difference. We walk by faith and not by sight. We look at the things which are not seen. We fix our eyes upon Jesus. That’s the key. That’s what Mary, Martha and the apostles came to learn. It’s what we need to learn as well.

Faith is the victory.

Roger