Encouragement

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IT WON'T BE LONG - JOHN 11:1-16

“Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord the one you love is sick.”

When He heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days.

Then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”
After He had said this, He went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought He meant natural sleep. So then He told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

Lazarus, Mary and Martha were friends of Jesus. He was a regular visitor in their home, when travelling to or from Jerusalem. Mary is identified as the one who loved to sit at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10: 38-42), and also as the one who anointed the Lord with perfume (John 12:3). These people had associated closely with Jesus, and seen the healings and other miracles that flowed through His life. They loved Him. When Lazarus fell ill, the first thing they thought about was asking Jesus to minister to him. They had no doubt that Jesus would come, and that He would raise Lazarus up from his sick bed, because they had no doubt that Jesus loved them. (Their message to Jesus said “Lord, the one you love is sick”). It is fair to believe that someone who loves you will rush to your side when you are facing a difficulty.

But Jesus had a plan! In His divine capacity, He knew what the outcome of Lazarus’ sickness would be – the prognosis looked bleak, but it was all ultimately to be for the glory of the name of the Lord. John writes that although Jesus loved his three friends, when he heard the news, he did not rush to Bethany to minister to them – he just stayed where he was! Can you imagine what the two ladies were going through? Their only brother was at death’s door, and they were waiting for Jesus to come. They knew their messenger delivered their call; they knew Jesus and His heart of compassion; they knew the power that flowed through Him; they even knew Jesus loved them; but there was neither word, nor sight of Him! They must have been confused and hurt, wondering what was going on and where He was!

Many of us have been in this place. We are sure of God’s love for us; we walk in faith and stand on His Word. Then we call on His name in a crisis but nothing happens! It seems like we wait, and wait ….. and wait! Weeks and months down the road, we start to wonder what’s going on and where we stand – it is not a happy place to be!

But Jesus had a plan! He always pointed people to the reality and revelation of His Father. He desired that God would be glorified by a much greater miracle that the sisters were looking for. He knew Martha and Mary. He knew they were mature in their relationship with Him and their knowledge of who He was. He trusted them to stay faithful and wait for the best because the eventual answer to their prayer was going to be a blessing to many others as well. Although waiting times pass slowly, are painful, and are hard to bear, they are times of maturing, character building, and the development of the fruit of the spirit. If it takes faith to believe for a miracle, it takes super faith to wait! If you feel like you are experiencing a seemingly endless waiting time, be assured that it is because God sees you as faithful, and as someone mature enough to graduate this class! He is molding you into something wonderful as you wait, which you probably would not ever be if you did not sit this time through! Have you noticed that little children and puppies can never wait more than a few seconds for something? The ability to wait comes with maturity. In love, parents sometimes make their children wait for what they want, to help them develop patience and character!

When Jesus decided to set out for the home of His friends, His disciples were more than a little concerned! They knew He was under a death threat, and they were not eager to walk into danger with Him. The horror of those recent events were still all too real to them! (Chapter 10 tells us how the Jewish leaders accused Him of blasphemy and tried to kill Him). None of them had faith enough to believe that they would be safe, no matter where they went, and that they could walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil (Psalm 23:4) if they were by His side. Thomas even said “Let us also go, that we may die with Him”. How’s that for positive thinking!

However this is real love; Jesus risked His life to go back to the very place where people tried to destroy Him just days before. Hang in there, friend – He is coming your way soon! Hebrews 10:37 says “For in just a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.” When it is time for God to act, nothing can stop Him – your breakthrough is nearly here!
The Jewish day and night were equally divided into 12 hours each (from sunset to sunrise and vice versa). Jesus was referring to this, but actually speaking about the fact that He had nothing to fear because He walked “in the light”. His life was transparent and there was no sin the enemy could pin on Him (John 14:30). Our enemies may come against us but if we walk a path that is pure and pleasing to God, (in the light) they really cannot get us in the end, because of the impenetrable divine covering that surrounds us. Psalm 5:12 says “For surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield”.

The disciples thought Jesus spoke about waking Lazarus up from natural sleep, but He was really referring to raising him from the grave. He said “for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe…”! This was a faith building exercise, not only for Martha and Mary, but for Jesus’ inner circle of disciples. When we have waited long, and struggled with doubt and anxiety, our faith is strengthened and elevated when we finally see the hand of God coming through for us! God’s ultimate answer to our prayers is always the best thing for us, (even though we may not always agree at the time we receive it!). Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Friends, be encouraged today that your waiting time is all a part of the plan and is coming to an end soon. God loves you and has even better things in store for you than you could think of for yourself. After all, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:9 & 10). Ephesians 3 verse 20 tells us that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…” Hallelujah!

It all boils down to what Jesus told His disciples – that He delayed His visit to Bethany so that they would believe! So precious child of God, as you wait for your moment of breakthrough, focus with positive expectation on the following:

1) Your wait has been long, but your miracle will be all the greater! There is something good brewing in the spiritual dimension!

2) Your wait and victory are all for the glory of the Name above all names, when people see your life and witness and acknowledge that you serve the Lord of lords!

3) God is doing a work in you. You are growing in faith, and will soon be ready to graduate the class! Rejoice!

4) Remind yourself that the awesome God of the universe loves you and came a long distance just for you; He gave His very life to set you free! How can there be anything He will hold back from you? He wants the best for you!

Be blessed and know that it won't be long!

Minoli Haththotuwa, 10 May 2010
www.wingslikeeagles.info

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