This morning was one of the more emotional worship services I've been a part of in recent memory. It's hard to quietly explain to a newly turned 6 year old that sometimes, everything's okay when people are crying. I could venture guesses as to why this day was special, but really want to share the thoughts that came to mind as many different things seemed to come together today.
Our Sunday school lesson was on Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. I'll keep drawing on this story so if you want more depth, read John 11. If not, the super short cliff notes version is this: Lazarus's sisters sent word to Jesus that their brother was sick. Jesus eventually made his way to their home, but He was too late. Lazarus was dead. Then Jesus did what the Son of God does, He raised the dead!
I was super excited about this lesson for several reasons. One, it was good lesson with a lot more to it than I had previously noticed. Two, I heard a sermon during the week that really brought the story to life and I was attempting to convey that same passion while still covering the story and all of its intricate details. But the story left me with more questions before providing some clarity and answers.
1. Why did Jesus wait before going to help his friend? This was a guy Jesus spent a lot of time with and the whole family was very close, but when hearing of the sickness, Jesus waited two whole days before going to help. "When we face a difficult situation or a health concern, our greatest worry is usually not tied to God's glory. We want immediate comfort and relief; we want the difficult to go away now. That's what Mary and Martha wanted. Mary and Martha probably assumed they knew what was best in their satiation, and we do that too. We tend to think that if God loves us, He will make us comfortable. But we will have an eternity in heaven to be comfortable!...God might not work on our timetable, but He does work - and He will work in a way that brings Him glory.
2. Why us? Why me? Why not someone else? Once Lazarus had died, "Mary and Martha likely wondered why God had placed them in their current situation. Jesus' actions must have bewildered them. They knew Jesus loved them but they could not understand why a loving God would allow a loyal follower to suffer and die." This is the question that has been bugging me - why did this happen to a good man, a friend of Jesus at that? I won't share his name here because I have not asked his permission (I did in class, sorry bud). But I can't help but want to question God why a good man, a man who loves his children, is faithful to his wife, and serves God is going through a horrible medical issue. If someone should get special treatment, it's him. There are bad people in the world, guys who have nothing to do with their kids and barely pay child support; guys who have 4 'baby mommas' and yet this good man is the one suffering. It's not fair and I can't comprehend it, but neither did Mary and Martha.
"Jesus was asking Martha to go against her instincts and tradition and trust God for something that appeared impossible. By trusting Him when all seemed impossible, she would see the glory of God," and we can too IF we have enough faith.
3. How long do we have to hang on? After Lazarus died, it Jesus took 4 days to get his friend's side. This was significant because the Jewish people believed that a person's soul hung around their corpse for three days. This meant that on the fourth day, all hope for Lazarus was lost. "Could it be that we do not see God's glory more often because we fail to believe? Martha already knew Jesus could heal sick people. What she was about to learn was that Jesus could also raise dead people. Jesus was asking her to go against her instincts and tradition and trust God for something that appeared impossible. By trusting Him when all seemed impossible, she would see the glory of God."
Mary and Martha praised and glorified God for raising their brother from the dead, but that wasn't God's end game. Others saw their faith and believed. "Instead of letting our problems define us, when we let God work through them for His glory, others notice. When we live our lives according to God's will, we honor Him. We draw people to Christ, which brings Him even greater honor."
We all have a Lazarus. Maybe there's a sickness or struggle now you're going through right now. Maybe you're in the midst of the four dark days where your loved one or your dream is gone and hope seems lost. We don't know when Jesus will show up or exactly what he'll do. Just know that when he comes, it will be the right time and he will deliver the most glorifying action he can to God our Father...if we will let him. It'll hurt right now, but the sleepless night, the tears, the pain - it all has a purpose.
Our Sunday school lesson was on Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. I'll keep drawing on this story so if you want more depth, read John 11. If not, the super short cliff notes version is this: Lazarus's sisters sent word to Jesus that their brother was sick. Jesus eventually made his way to their home, but He was too late. Lazarus was dead. Then Jesus did what the Son of God does, He raised the dead!
I was super excited about this lesson for several reasons. One, it was good lesson with a lot more to it than I had previously noticed. Two, I heard a sermon during the week that really brought the story to life and I was attempting to convey that same passion while still covering the story and all of its intricate details. But the story left me with more questions before providing some clarity and answers.
1. Why did Jesus wait before going to help his friend? This was a guy Jesus spent a lot of time with and the whole family was very close, but when hearing of the sickness, Jesus waited two whole days before going to help. "When we face a difficult situation or a health concern, our greatest worry is usually not tied to God's glory. We want immediate comfort and relief; we want the difficult to go away now. That's what Mary and Martha wanted. Mary and Martha probably assumed they knew what was best in their satiation, and we do that too. We tend to think that if God loves us, He will make us comfortable. But we will have an eternity in heaven to be comfortable!...God might not work on our timetable, but He does work - and He will work in a way that brings Him glory.
2. Why us? Why me? Why not someone else? Once Lazarus had died, "Mary and Martha likely wondered why God had placed them in their current situation. Jesus' actions must have bewildered them. They knew Jesus loved them but they could not understand why a loving God would allow a loyal follower to suffer and die." This is the question that has been bugging me - why did this happen to a good man, a friend of Jesus at that? I won't share his name here because I have not asked his permission (I did in class, sorry bud). But I can't help but want to question God why a good man, a man who loves his children, is faithful to his wife, and serves God is going through a horrible medical issue. If someone should get special treatment, it's him. There are bad people in the world, guys who have nothing to do with their kids and barely pay child support; guys who have 4 'baby mommas' and yet this good man is the one suffering. It's not fair and I can't comprehend it, but neither did Mary and Martha.
"Jesus was asking Martha to go against her instincts and tradition and trust God for something that appeared impossible. By trusting Him when all seemed impossible, she would see the glory of God," and we can too IF we have enough faith.
3. How long do we have to hang on? After Lazarus died, it Jesus took 4 days to get his friend's side. This was significant because the Jewish people believed that a person's soul hung around their corpse for three days. This meant that on the fourth day, all hope for Lazarus was lost. "Could it be that we do not see God's glory more often because we fail to believe? Martha already knew Jesus could heal sick people. What she was about to learn was that Jesus could also raise dead people. Jesus was asking her to go against her instincts and tradition and trust God for something that appeared impossible. By trusting Him when all seemed impossible, she would see the glory of God."
Mary and Martha praised and glorified God for raising their brother from the dead, but that wasn't God's end game. Others saw their faith and believed. "Instead of letting our problems define us, when we let God work through them for His glory, others notice. When we live our lives according to God's will, we honor Him. We draw people to Christ, which brings Him even greater honor."
We all have a Lazarus. Maybe there's a sickness or struggle now you're going through right now. Maybe you're in the midst of the four dark days where your loved one or your dream is gone and hope seems lost. We don't know when Jesus will show up or exactly what he'll do. Just know that when he comes, it will be the right time and he will deliver the most glorifying action he can to God our Father...if we will let him. It'll hurt right now, but the sleepless night, the tears, the pain - it all has a purpose.
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