John 11 starts off with information about Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha being sick and the sisters sending for Jesus. Verse 4 tells us, “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.” Yet Jesus stays 2 more days in the place he was (Vs 5 – 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”) and by vs 14, He tells His disciples that Lazarus is already dead “Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”
One minute, Jesus is saying Lazarus won’t die and a few days later, He’s confirming he is dead. We know from the story that by the time Jesus got there, Lazarus had been in the tomb 4 days and Jesus was just 2 miles (3.2km) from where Lazarus was.
All of these seem like a paradox at this point and begs a few questions. So, indulge me for a moment. Try and forget you know how this story ends but you’re in Bethany hearing and experiencing all that is going on. At this point, some of the thoughts that might cross your mind could include the following:
- Jesus had lied when in verse 4 He said the sickness wasn’t unto death.
- Jesus’ love for Mary, Martha and Lazarus is questionable since He could surely have journeyed the 2 miles in less than 4 days to prevent Lazarus from dying in the first place and save them from 4 days of heartache. Besides, how do you intentionally wait 2 days because you love them (vs 5-6)?
- Jesus is not to be trusted and is bound to disappoint.
Fast forward to the later part of the chapter and we see Jesus weep in vs 35 after He saw Mary and all the Jews who were with her weeping. At this point, the people obviously figured He loved Lazarus but wondered why He didn’t get there on time to heal him before he died (vs 36-37). By vs 44, Lazarus is raised and Jesus commands to lose the clothes he was bound with and let him go. Subsequently, many people came to believe Jesus because of the raising of Lazarus from the dead (the son of man was glorified).
So, what do we do with all this information?
See, many of us are in the ‘tomb’ phase in one area of our lives or the other. God said something to you about a matter or a situation. There seemed to be a time where it looked plausible, but now that window has closed and you’re in that phase when everything ‘is’ dead. You analyze the situation and you can’t see how that word is going to be fulfilled. Yet, this story suggests that sometimes, because of God’s love for us, He allows things (hopes, dreams etc.) to ‘die’ around us and even mourns with us when we mourn those things. Doesn’t make much sense to the natural mind but isn’t that how it is with God? His ways are not our ways nor His thoughts our thoughts.
So, during the 4 days (yours could be hours, days, months or years) of ‘death’, what should we be doing? Job 14 vs 7-9 and Habakkuk 3 vs 17 – 18 gives us an idea “For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant.” (Job 14:7-9) “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Hab 3: 17-18.
Therefore, HOPE in the Lord, hold on to His WORD which is what brings back life to that dead situation and REJOICE in the Lord not in your situation. These are not easy to do but as you ask the Holy Spirit for help to act in faith, may you experience the resurrection power of God in your situation and may your story draw men to God and bring Him all the glory in Jesus’ name.
Remain connected to the vine,
Bolaji Ajayi
And the word became flesh 