Encouragement in Confusing Times

In John 11 we read about a man from Bethany, a good friend of Jesus. His sisters Mary and Martha send Him a message that their brother is sick. If you were miles away in another town with Jesus, what advice would you give Him when you got the news? Go to the man immediately. Pray for him. The disciples had seen Jesus do other miracles. Maybe he could pray for Lazarus and make him well.

But Jesus said no, they would stay in the place where they were for two more days. What would you think about an answer like that? Jesus didn’t care about his friend? Jesus tells the disciples that the sickness will not end in death but for the glory of God, so the Son of God could be glorified. 

Jesus didn’t think like the disciples. His thoughts were spiritual and the disciples didn’t understand.

When they finally arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had died. Imagine how the disciples felt when Marth ran to him and bemoaned, “If you had been here, maybe my brother wouldn’t have died.”

I would’ve come to the same conclusion. What was Jesus thinking?

The story goes on to say Jesus tells her Lazarus will rise again. Martha believes He means in the resurrection. Jesus means both here and later. Now Jesus has the opportunity to tell her He is the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Him, even if he dies, will live. He’s referring to eternal life. But He punctuates the meaning of his words by bringing Lazarus back to life. 

Sometimes when we perceive in our human eyes that our circumstances are dismal, hold on. Trust in the Lord’s greater purpose. For he assures us: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55: 9