April 7 - Reluctant Souls

(submitted by Chris Heckaman)

John 11:3-6
“So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling Him, “Lord, your dear friend (Lazarus) is very sick.” But when Jesus heard about it He said, “Lazarus’ sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days.”

Sometime it’s hard for us to understand. Why did Jesus wait? Why didn’t He act right away when we all know if He really wanted to He could have?

He said Lazarus’ illness was so that the Son (actually Himself) could be glorified. That’s good for Him but how does it help us? God’s glory is for our good. You might say, “Yeah, I know that.” But more than just reluctantly accepting it, you can realize more so His glory is for our greatness. I think that says it best. In the end His answer will blow us away and be proven well worth the wait.

Jesus though still gets some bad press. He waited two days before leaving to go see Lazarus. It would take Him another two days to get there beyond that. He wept when He finally did get there, but it wasn’t the word for a deep cry, just a trickle of a tear from His eye. We can still think deep down he doesn’t really care, at least not enough. Mary didn’t even go out to meet Him when he arrived she was so bent.

Have you ever read the story though that closely before? Chapter 10 reveals the last time Jesus went to that region they were planning on taking Him and stoning Him. You know, it’d make me want to wait till the time was right before I went back. When Jesus did arrive did you notice He didn’t or maybe even couldn’t go into the village, but rather He stayed on the outside of the little community? Martha had to go out to meet Him. The crowd of mourners was the same crowd of previous “wanna be stoners.” Further, when Martha was told he had finally arrived, whoever told her He was near whispered it in her ear, not wanting to draw attention in front of the others. Virtually immediately after Jesus performed His miracle, bringing Lazarus back from the dead, the Jewish leaders went back to planning His demise.

Do you see? There is nothing Jesus wouldn’t do for you. Say that last sentence again, but this time out loud. Do you think it was just a little hard for Jesus to stand before Lazarus’ tomb knowing what He would encounter for Himself just a few days away? He let us as humankind taste the fruit of resurrection first. What was that like Lazarus? Even before Jesus enjoyed it for Himself. Again, there is nothing Jesus wouldn’t do for you.

Will you pray with me? Jesus, thank you. Thank you for coming to my aid. Forgive me for not thinking you really don’t care. May my devotion to you better reflect your devotion proven unto me. Amen.