DECEMBER 29, 2014
Delay
May Not Mean Denial
Read: John
11:21-35
When [Jesus] heard that [Lazarus] was sick, He stayed two more days in
the place where He was. —John
11:6
My sons’ birthdays are
in December. When they were small, Angus quickly learned that if he didn’t
receive a longed-for toy for his birthday at the beginning of the month, it
might be in his Christmas stocking. And if David didn’t receive his gift for
Christmas, it might appear for his birthday 4 days later. Delay didn’t
necessarily mean denial.
It was natural for
Martha and Mary to send for Jesus when Lazarus became seriously ill (John
11:1-3). Perhaps they looked anxiously along the road for signs of His arrival,
but Jesus didn’t come. The funeral service had been over for 4 days when Jesus
finally walked into town (v.17).
Martha was blunt. “If
You had been here,” she said, “my brother would not have died” (v.21). Then her
faith flickered into certainty, “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God,
God will give You” (v.22). I wonder what she expected. Lazarus was dead, and
she was wary about opening the tomb. And yet at a word from Jesus, Lazarus’
spirit returned to his decaying body (vv.41-44). Jesus had bypassed simply
healing His sick friend, in order to perform the far greater miracle of
bringing him back to life.
Waiting for God’s timing
may also give us a greater miracle than we had hoped for.
My Savior hears me when I pray,
Upon His Word I calmly rest;
In His own time, in His own way,
I know He’ll give me what is best. —Hewitt
Time
spent waiting on God is never wasted.
Insight
Martha, often maligned
for her attitude in Luke 10:38-42, displays great faith in today’s passage. Not
only does she believe that Jesus has a special relationship with the Father
(John 11:22), she also affirms her confidence that Jesus is, in fact, the Son
of God (v.27).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012