Sometimes you find yourself when you know you need God. That’s what happened in the account of Lazarus, his sisters, and his friends.
In Verse 3 we read:
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
John 11_03
They knew Lazarus’s situation was critical, so they turned to God. Perhaps they should have done this earlier. We don’t know. Maybe the sickness quickly came upon Lazarus, and that explains why they looked for Jesus with only a little time left.
When you get in a place in your life where you need divine intervention, you should invite God into the situation as quickly as possible.
Jesus already knew
As the physical manifestation of God, Jesus knew about Lazarus’ condition. He knew that Lazarus was sick unto death before Lazarus died.
So, when the message of Lazarus’ condition came to Jesus, He wasn’t surprised. They didn’t catch Jesus on a bad day. Still, Jesus wants us to call on Him in our hour of need.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 04_06
An apparent contradiction
Lazarus’s sisters expected Jesus to come to the rescue right away. In fact, Jesus’ response to Mary and Martha seemed encouraging.
In Verse 4 of the same chapter, we read:
When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John 11_04
Notice Jesus’ mission: He aimed to glorify God. Similarly, in everything we do, we should seek to glorify God.
Getting back to the message, Verse 5 leaves no doubt that Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters.
Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
John 11_05
What’s interesting is that, after finding out about Lazarus, Jesus did nothing. In fact, He stayed two more days in the same place where Lazarus’s sisters found Him.
This brings us to my first point.
Jesus doesn’t always come when we think we need Him
A need existed. Jesus could meet that need. Jesus did not meet the need.
By Verse 11, Lazarus was dead.
Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
John 11_11
The disciples did not understand what Jesus said. That’s why they responded to Jesus, saying that Lazarus can benefit from sleep.
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
John 11_14
Jesus seems to contradict Himself. He told those concerned that Lazarus’ sickness was “not unto death,” but now, Lazarus is dead! The situation was hopeless.
Fortunately, Jesus knows the beginning and the end of our story.
When we’re suffering, that doesn’t always seem clear.
When Jesus doesn’t show up in your life, your dreams may die. Your marriage might fail. Your financial issues become destructive. You may face civil or criminal legal challenges. Your business might die.
Those are just a few things that might happen when Jesus doesn’t show up.
Look at your life, and discover where you’ve needed Jesus, but He wasn’t there. You suffered, didn’t you? You became disappointed. You suffered loss. You might get angry with God.
Without doubt, Lazarus’s sisters lost their faith. When Jesus finally came, Mary and Martha both said, “If you were here, our brother wouldn’t have died.”
Jesus need not be physically present
In Matthew Chapter 8, a centurion came to Jesus on behalf of his servant who was sick with palsy. Jesus said, “I will come and heal him,” but the centurion asked of Jesus, “Speak the word only.”
The centurion’s servant was healed.
This reminds me of James Chapter 4 where the apostle says, “Ye ask amiss.”
Sometimes we ask for the wrong thing. Mary and Martha asked for Jesus’ physical presence. Perhaps they should have asked Jesus to “Speak the word.”
Jesus is glad He wasn’t there
I find it interesting that Jesus is glad He wasn’t there to heal Lazarus!
While you’re sitting around angry with God, He’s glad He wasn’t there when you thought you needed Him the most.
I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe
John 11_15
Jesus didn’t go to Lazarus for the benefit of the disciples! He wanted them to believe.
In other words, God controls the situation. God can simultaneously work in the lives of many people through the same problem.
“But what about me? Jesus didn’t come, so He could teach His disciples, but I really, really needed his help!”
I’m asking you to stay in faith. Jesus is on the way. He also wants you to believe!
When Jesus finally arrived on the scene, he asked,
Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John 11_26
Martha believed. Mary believed. The disciples believed. Will you believe?