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The Delays of God - Trinity XVI, St. John 11

In our study of the Gospel of St. John, we have come to chapter 11 and the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Having read earlier in the service the story of Jesus bringing the young man back to life in Luke 4, we realise that this was not the first time that Jesus demonstrated that he is the Lord of life. However, there are differences between the two stories that are very important and instructive.
For one thing, the young man had just died and was being carried to his funeral. Lazarus, however, had been dead for four days when Jesus brought him back to life. You will recall how, when Jesus commanded that the stone be rolled away from the entrance to Lazarus’ tomb, that Martha complained of how Lazarus, having been there so long, would be decayed and smelly. Lazarus had already begun to turn back into the dust from which all men are made. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus is thus not only indicative of his power to give life, but to give life to dust – reminding us of the story of man’s creation. It is another of those moments in John’s gospel where Jesus shows forth his identity as our Creator.

But there is another difference that I really want to home in on today. In Luke 4, Jesus was passing along the road and just happened to come across the funeral procession. He learns of the death of the young man and his being the only son of his mother and he has compassion on the mother. Because of this compassion, he raises her son. The story of Lazarus is very different. Through the circumstances and the dialogue, we find that Jesus purposefully allows Lazarus to die. He thus intentionally sets the scene at Lazarus’ tomb.

In verses 1-4, immediately we find that Jesus sees a purpose in Lazarus’ sickness. It is nothing other than that he would glorify God by being himself glorified in the power that he is going to show regarding Lazarus’ condition. Because he knows the Father in that unique way of his, he recognises the plan of God behind it all. He thus begins to respond to this news in a way that would lead to the fulfillment of that purpose (see verses 5&6).

Now notice two things in the narrative. Jesus’ love for Lazarus and his family is mentioned twice. We are meant to understand that they are beloved by him, for his initial response to the news of Lazarus’ sickness does not look like something that someone who loved them would do; especially if he could heal Lazarus. We would think Jesus would get right up and go to Bethany, if he loved them. Instead, he waits two whole days. Jesus is purposefully allowing Lazarus’ illness to take its course. As I have said, this does not seem the loving thing to do, but in fact, according to verse 6, it is precisely because he does love them that he is letting this happen. The implication of verses 5 & 6 is that he waited because he loved them. Whatever was connected to his being glorified through Lazarus’ illness, the event was going to be a good thing for them; an evidence of his love.

If we have not read the story before, we are certainly scratching our heads, wondering how these things are going to fit together. Indeed, you will recall that Mary and Martha, who did not know how things were going to turn out, were obviously perplexed with Jesus’ delay. When he finally shows up, they both tell him that this sorrowful event would not have occurred if he had come earlier. It didn’t seem to fit their understanding of his love for them either.

Nevertheless, Jesus was very plain about it all with his disciples that the sickness of Lazarus was an event that was meant to glorify God and St. John, writing the story, is very plain that Jesus followed this plan out of love for Lazarus and his sisters.

But that was not all that Jesus had on his mind. We find another reason why he delayed as the story continues to unfold. Read verses 7-15. Jesus says there that the delay actually brought joy to Jesus. He says, “I am glad I was not there.” Why? “For your sakes.” He forsees the forthcoming resurrection of Lazarus from the dead as a benefit to the faith of the disciples. He is setting up this miracle so that they will believe in him. Whatever helps his disciples to have more faith in him brings joy to his heart.

Now, someone could wonder: here is Jesus, thinking that the death of Lazarus is a good thing – even rejoicing in the event – when surely this was extremely painful for everyone else in Bethany. Is that right? I would answer that question in two ways. First of all, is it not true that there are things in this life that bring us both joy and grief at the same time? ...

But the second way I would answer that question is to point to the rest of the story. While Jesus spoke to his disciples of his gladness about Lazarus’ death before taking the trip to Bethany, once he gets there, we have none of that. Let me pick up the narrative at the point where Mary finally appears before Jesus as he was drawing near the town, and let us note what we learn about Jesus’ emotions. See verses 30-38. Clearly, John wants us to know that Jesus had very proper feelings for the suffering that surrounded Lazarus’ death. And if we know much of Jesus from the Bible, we are not surprised at this. There is no one born of woman as compassionate as Jesus. How could it not be so? It is sin that hardens our hearts toward people; that makes us callous and selfish. He, being sinless, knew compassion perfectly and felt it more ardently than anyone else. We thus know that, though Jesus was rejoicing that the glory of God was to be revealed, that the plan of God for his work was being fulfilled, that he was about to do something good for Lazarus’ family and that his disciples’ faith would be improved, he nevertheless, with his tender heart, wept with those who had to go through the pain of Lazarus’ death, not knowing what Jesus was about to do.

Now here, I want us to consider what all of this has to do with our lives, for it has indeed been written and preserved that we might know who this Jesus is ourselves and believe on him ourselves. First of all, we have to recognise and be reconciled to the fact that God does occasionally allow painful things in our lives – an allows them to persist for a time – for our own good. Indeed, he does it because he loves us. There’s something about the blessing he has in store for us that required the ingredient of delay.

We see him doing this kind of thing in nature, do we not? There are many things in our world that we enjoy that are the fruit of a lengthy, drawn out process. Just consider our food. ... Consider even more closely the delays of God in the life of the Church which we read about in the Scriptures. ...

But think especially on the delay of God in the sending of his Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world! We don’t know how many thousands of years he waited until, as the Scripture says, the time was due. Think of all the suffering of sinners for millenium after millenium. Think of the centuries and centuries that went by as the saints believed in God’s promises but never saw them fulfilled. And the fulness of the salvation he came to bring has still not taken place. Indeed, the whole creation has been waiting ever since Adam fell for that day, groaning and longing for the revelation of the sons of God in Christ. But it is only fitting, that the greatest blessing of all human history – the consummation of the ages in Jesus – requires the longest time to ripen and come to fruition.

I am sure that every one of us here today is waiting on God for something. There’s something that we wish he would do, that we are hoping he will do, but he is delaying. We should not be confused or discouraged by that. It is not at all unusual that God’s blessing in our lives requires time. That’s why we need to trust Him. That’s why we need the grace of faith. That’s why we need our faith strengthened: that we might wait upon God.

But as we wait, we must never think that he does not feel the pain, the frustration, the sorrow, whatever we might be experiencing, while we wait on his good time. He has revealed himself in Jesus. Jesus was and is our God, and he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He weeps with us. He groans with us, and with all his people. Let that thought comfort you. Don’t ever think Jesus enjoys your misery. He does not. He feels it more than you do, for he still has more compassion and wise concern for you than you do for yourself.

Instead of thinking harsh thoughts about his delays, be reconciled to them. He knows what he is doing. It’s part of being a disciple of Christ – it always has been. Many saints have spent their lives believing promises that were long in fulfillment, or were even fulfilled after they were long gone. It’s part of being a pilgrim. By faith wait on him. By faith look forward to the day when all trouble and waiting will be over. In patience, possess your souls, as you walk with the One who loves you and only seeks your good.

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