"His [Lazarus] sisters, therefore, sent to him [Jesus], saying; Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest, is sick." Jesus loved Lazarus. There was a relationship there that was so close that it was a known fact. So can you imagine how shocked and disillusioned Lazarus' sisters must have felt when Jesus delayed coming for two days. Jesus was less than two miles away. Pastor Stepney really made it plain in his sermon. Jesus could have easily walked the two miles to see about his friend and returned back to what he was doing. Yet, Jesus stays put. His friend is suffering and He stays put. Lazarus' state is getting worse and Jesus stays put. His breathing becomes shallow. Jesus stays put. The systems of his body are shutting down. Jesus stays put. Lazarus is pronounced dead. Jesus stays put. His body is wrapped and prepared for burial. Jesus stays put. They have the funeral. Jesus stays put. Sunrise, sunset for 3 days, no Jesus.
What do you do when God doesn't make sense? When I was a little girl, I was told that if I "got saved" my life would be better. If I lived a holy life, God would bless me. My prayers would be answered. God's love would cause the sun to shine and dispel the most dark day. If I prayed to Him for help, He would come. I don't know about you, but I can remember praying until I was weak and hoarse but my situation did not change. In fact, it got worse. When that happens, we are inclined to ask what we are doing wrong and bargain with God. You've heard it. "If you do these things for me, I'll be so careful...."
"And Jesus hearing it, said to them; This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God: that the Son of God may be glorified by it." Interestingly, Jesus says this in verse 4 of that same Chapter. Yet in verse 14, Jesus says "Lazarus is dead." What's up with that? I'm sure the disciples exchanged puzzled glances. First Jesus says Larzarus is not going to die and then turns around and says he's dead.
Didn't I hear from God? Let me have a show of hands of those who have asked this question. Okay, okay, that would be all of us church folk who pride ourselves on hearing God tell us to do this or to do that. You said God told you to marry that man, but the marriage ended. You said God gave you that job, yet you got laid off. Who was wrong? Since God can't make a mistake it had to be you, right? Tell that to the disciples. If God is faithful. If God is all-knowing. Why? Why would there be inconsistent messages. When I ponder this, I have to put myself in the disciples' place. They didn't have the Bible to read. They didn't know that God had a plan bigger than they could fathom.
Like Lazarus' sisters, I've prayed to a God I knew loved me and had my best interest at heart, but he didn't come. More than once, I've made specific prayers, thought God answered them, but then the outcome was different from what I expected. I know that the trial of my faith is more precious than gold, but come on! What do you do when it doesn't make sense?
I personally have no answer. Nevetheless, when Pastor Stepney preached this, he made two points that I think apply really well here. God wants to reveal himself to you was his first point. In the story, God reveals himself as The Resurrection. Death was of no consequence. To the point, it might look like it's too late; but God's timing is perfect. Not perfect to you, but perfect to Him. His second point was God wants to be glorified on Earth. In short, sometimes what's happening to you isn't for you at all. It's so that someone else can witness the miracle and be encouraged. Makes me look at what's happened in my life differently.
