My family and i have been on vacation up North for nearly three weeks now. We planned to travel home yesterday. We had the van and children all loaded up and the customary car-trip whining had begun. As we headed down the road, the speedometer stopped working: i couldn't tell how fast i was going. The cruise control stopped working: i could not establish a consistant speed. And the odometer stopped working: i could not tell how far i had gone. The engine was also riding pretty rough, so i decided to turn around.
A change of plans. Things not going the way i think they should.
This morning i sat on the back deck of our friends' house, sipping coffee in the pleasant Northern air, and i turned to John chapter 11. I read about when Lazurus got sick,
"So the sisters sent word to [Jesus], saying, 'Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.' But when Jesus heard this, He said, 'This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.'” vs 3-4.
This is not what i expect Jesus to say. I don't expect Him to say that any sickness might result in the glorification of God, but... He said it. It doesn't seem very loving, but then John reminds us,
"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." vs 5.
Ok. So, we've established the fact that Jesus loves these people. What happens next?
"So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was." vs 6.
Huh? Again, not what i expect. I would think it would read something like, "So when He heard that he was sick, He hurried over to help out." But, that's not what it says. That's not what He did. He stayed two days longer.
Well, because I am staying a day or two longer than i intended, i got to have lunch with my friend this afternoon. We talked about his boy who is fighting autism; all the questions such a struggle raises. We talked about what God COULD do, and about what God HASN'T done.
Now, Jesus loves my friend, and his son, and me, and you.
He doesn't opperate based on our plans or expectations. He's a Person, not a program. He's not a math problem, He's a poem. He is mysterious and unpredictable, and He loves us. And what He is doing right now is for the glory of God, even if He seems a day or two late.
Thank you guys for the comments! It is so good for us to wrestle with Jesus, His actions and His words. We will recieve the blessing!
Hi Brother, good word that no matter where we find ourselves in life, God’s love for us never changes. It’s also true that God is not a program nor should we approach Him in a formulaic way. He is mysterious and unpredictable but He is faithful and reliable. He is true to His word and character as He revealed it to us through Jesus Christ. With that being said, here is my take on this story.
Based on other accounts and facts related to this story (Lk. 13:22, Joh. 10:40, Joh. 1:28, 3:26), we can deduce that Jesus was probably near Bethabara when the messenger arrived to tell Jesus that Lazarus was dead. Bethabara was approximately 20 miles from Bethany and so it would have taken the messenger at day of travel to reach Jesus. Jesus stays 2 more days. On the 4th day, from the time that the messenger left Bethany, Jesus arrives in Bethany and He is told that Lazarus had already been in the tomb 4 days. Therefore, we can safely assume that Lazarus was already dead by the time the messenger reached Jesus.
I believe that when Jesus said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” (Jo. 11:3-4), he was not saying that Lazarus was sick so that God could be glorified but rather, Jesus was pointing to the fact that God would be glorified in raising Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus arrives in Bethany, He demonstrates God’s great love and compassion and then puts action behind that love by raising Lazarus from the dead. In John 11:40, Jesus tells Mary, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” What is His glory? It’s when His works, His love, his power are being manifested here on earth. This parallels the lesson being taught in John 9:3-7. The disciples ask Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus responds, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents. But that the works of God might be displayed in him, we must work the works of him who sent me…” Jesus then reveals the works of God by healing the blind man. Throughout the scriptures, Jesus shows us the will of the Father, which is to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons. As believers, Jesus commissions us to continue this work (Matt. 10:8). Empowered by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, we re-present Jesus here on earth.
God does not cause sickness to build our character or virtue. That is the role of the Holy Spirit (fruits of the Spirit). While God is mysterious and unpredictable in how He answers our prayers (ie. See the various ways that Jesus healed), we can stand firm on His unchangeable word and promises. We have a role to play in the bringing forth of the Kingdom here on earth. We must renew our minds, activate our faith and resist the devil. We can also take great encouragement that we cannot lose because no matter what trials or circumstances we face, God is working all things for our good (Ro. 8:28).
Bless you and your family! You are a blessing to the Kingdom and God is being glorified in and through you.
wow. really loved this post. so well written. thanks, friend! we've loved being with you, as always.
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