Have you ever experienced a situation when God did not come through when you hoped he would? When that happens our initial response is disappointment and frustration. Mary and Martha experienced a similar situation when Jesus did not show up when they needed Him. Their brother, Lazarus, was sick and they asked Jesus to come and heal him. How did Jesus respond to their request?

So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. (John 11:6)

Jesus doesn’t always respond to our prayers as we desire. The disciples were probably thinking that Jesus did not want to go because the religious leaders were seeking to kill Him. Imagine their surprise when Jesus told them a few days later they were going to see Lazarus:

The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” (John 11:8)

Jesus’ decisions don’t always make sense to us. The disciples did not understand what Jesus was planning, but they were to be commended for their loyalty to Jesus as Thomas spoke for the disciples:

Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.” (John 11:16)

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. She veiled her disappointment as she shared her sorrow:

Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21)

Martha believed that Jesus could have healed her brother, but since her brother was dead, it was too late. Jesus was going to reveal to them that nothing was too difficult for Him to overcome – not even death. The timing of this event is no coincidence because Jesus would soon be facing His own death. Jesus foreshadowed His own victory over death and revealed the hope they could experience.

Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” (John 11:24)

Jesus would enlarge her faith as He gave her a tremendous promise:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Jesus amazed the crowd as He raised Lazarus from the dead. This was the catalytic moment that caused the religious leaders to order His death. Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, declared to the religious leaders:

nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” (John 11:50)

Jesus died not only for the nation, but for all of mankind. His death was the payment for our sins and if we believe in Him we too shall have eternal life. Do you believe this?

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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