I was reading in the book of John this morning and I came upon the story of Lazarus...
"Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair; whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was." John 11:1-6
"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was." John 11:5 and 6.
Am I the only one who finds verses 5 and 6 totally strange? It says that Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus...but he stayed where he was at for two days before going to see them. My thoughts on this? 'Sure, Jesus, You say You love them but then you sit right there on your butt and don't do anything about Lazarus being sick.'
How quick we are to judge the Lord like that. How often we ask for something and it seems as if God is sitting on his butt not doing a thing. He seems to just sit there and let us die like Lazarus.
Oh me of little faith!!!
Christ went above and beyond what any of them could imagine. Yes, he let Lazarus die...but then He brought him back to life! Christ showed His power and sovereignty much more mightily than had he simply gone immediately and made Lazarus well.
Next time you feel that God is just sitting on his butt and not doing a thing, remember Lazarus. Jesus did not do things the way I'm sure Martha and Mary were expecting Him to do them (aka, just go and make Lazarus well). No, He did things the way HE wanted to do them and the way He knew would bring God the most glory. By waiting two days he gave Martha and Mary a chance to grow in their faith and really learn who HE was.
"...This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." John 11:4
Sorry if I offended anyone with the "butt" in reference to God. I realize that God is to be revered but I honestly do not believe that He takes offense to my saying that. In everything I write and say I try to bring Him glory and I do not believe that speaking in "human" terms, and saying what we really feel disrespects or dishonors Him.
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