Scripture:

John 11:

5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

Observation:

Jesus delays going to Lazarus.  Lazarus as a result…dies.

Application:

I can’t remember where I read this but one possible explanation (and I think a pretty likely one) for why Jesus delays going to Lazarus… is that he spent those extra days praying. Praying for Lazarus healing. Praying for his body to be intact when he walked out of that grave. Praying for Lazarus to come forth whole! Pretty cool. Jesus delay is mind boggling if you read this at face value. But if you understand his plan… his ultimate plan… you see the ultimate goal of his procrastination. He delays so that they will believe.

“Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

He loves us. With the same powerful love he had for Lazarus. How do I know. He died. So we could live. For us. He rose. So we could rise again. For us.

Prayer:

Thank you Jesus for your death and resurrection.  Increase my faith in you… the “resurrection and the life”.

1. markseekins posted this