John 11:1-44
The gospel of John, chapter 11:1-44, tells the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
The account of this amazing miracle contains many powerful lessons, but perhaps non greater than this:
When all hope seems gone. When God has seemingly not answered your prayers, or at least not answered them in the way and the time that you wanted or even demanded…
…Don’t stop believing!
God will answer and act in His will, time, and way; and His will, time, and way is always best.
Jesus could have prevented Lazarus from being sick.
Jesus could have healed Lazarus while he was sick.
Jesus could have healed Lazarus from where He was instead of waiting until after they arrived in Bethany only to reveal Lazarus had been dead and buried for 4 days.
But instead he waited until he arrived and all human hope was gone.
He waited, for a purpose…
John 11:14-15 says: “…Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe…”
In the end Jesus knew exactly what would happen, and what he would do.
From the beginning Jesus knew that He would raise Lazarus back to life.
In the end the miracle of that Jesus performed was a greater and more purposeful miracle than what would have been the miracle of a Jesus simply healing His sick friend.
More people heard of the miracle because He waited.
More people had their faith made greater because He waited.
Jesus identity as the Messiah and Son of God was made clearer because He waited.
Don’t miss what Jesus said in the beginning, “Lazarus’s sickness would not end in death.”
And it did not. It ended with Lazarus alive, with people believing in Jesus as the Messiah, and people praising God!
It ended with God’s power on full display.
Are you in a circumstance where it seems that God is not answering?
Don’t give up…but keep on believing!
Because in God’s time, in God’s will, and in God’s way…it is about to get so good!
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