John 11:1-15
I believe all of us may have asked the question why me before because of one thing or the other you went through. We don’t always understand our circumstances and life events. Somethings may even cause us to ask questions about God’s love and care for us. Some even go the extreme of leaving the faith. Because this happened to me, I don’t believe in God again. It could be a number reasons. Maybe a spouse leaves a marriage. They lose a job, a contract, business opportunity or they get sick and there seem to be no cure. Life brings things our way that challenges our faith so that God may seem silent or distant from our situation. We see something similair in the texts we read. We know the narrative. Lazarus was ill, the sisters sent for Jesus, he delayed in coming—purposefullly. Then eventually Lazarus died (John 11:1-4)
Let’s consider together When God Seem Silent because that’s what the narrative seem to paint for the family we have seen. Maybe presently you are experiencing some delayed answers to your prayers. Or you feel God doesn’t care or he doesn’t see your situation. I want us this morning to be encouraged from this narrative and keep hope and faith alive and to help us handle difficult situations when they happen in our lives. If you have ever feel God seem silent or distant, be encouraged. You are not alone. Even if you are feeling that right now, be encouraged. I have been in situations where I have felt where is God in all these. But I am not your greatest encourager, Scripture is. David, in three places in the Psalms felt God was distant
Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? (Psalm 10:1)
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalm 13:1)
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning (Psalm 22:1)
If David felt God was distant, you are not alone. Now more encouraging, Our Lord on the cross cried out Psalm 22:1
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46)
Believers Experience Problems
Dear friends, believers experience problems to the point of feeling abandoned by God. It is the reality of life. We are not immuned from the problems of this life because you are a believer. Believers get sick, believers get broke, believers experience hardships in life. In this narrative, we are introduced to a devoted family. They worship Jesus, they are devoted to him. Look at how one of the sisters is presented to us: “It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill”(v.2). I will say two things about this verse. (I) It is possible this event was commonly known amongst the readers of John. (II) The event was recorded in the next chapter so John prepares his readers to know who is doing this when they encounter the event (John 12:3). But this is a very important part of the narrative. John tells us it was this devoted woman who brother was ill: “It was Mary…whose brother was ill”
Humanly speaking, we should say that this should not happen. With this intense level of devotion, how can she lose her brother? I suspect that perharps is what John is inviting us into. To experience the reality of devoted people experiencing loss. So that when you read this, you will be encouraged in your situation, whatever it is. This is a small congregation and lifting my head to look into your faces, I know some of the problems my members are going through. Not because I am a prophet, but because we are here together. And in all of your problems, do you sometimes wonder if Jesus care? Yes he does. Whatever situation you find yourself, be assured that Jesus cares about you. He knows your struggles. There is a song that captures this
I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
Notice how emphasis is placed on how Jesus loves them in the narrative (vv 3, 5, 36). These commentaries by John is to give us insight into the people we are dealing with. They are loved by Jesus. Yet one of the people Jesus loved died out of illness.
Call On Jesus
Interestingly, they called on Jesus when their brother was ill (v.3). I take this to be a picture of prayer. They called out to Jesus in their moment of trouble. And that is what we should do. When problems come. Our first action must be to call out in prayer. Have you called out to Jesus yet in your trouble? You should. You should trust Jesus in every situation you encounter. You should believe his promises. Now though they called on Jesus, their brother died. And this will sometimes be the reality of all of us. We will believe God. We will pray. But what we rquest may not come. Or, it may delay.
And we see them interpreted the death of their brother as a delay on Jesus’ part. Notice the questions they asked when Jesus eventually showed up (vv.21,32). You and I know the details of the event because it has been recorded for us, but they didn’t so they blamed it on Jesus delaying. Let’s work with their accussation of a delay and ask Why did Jesus delay? They don’t know, but we know because we are now reading the narrative. The v.4 tells us why: But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” “But when Jesus heard it…” This is important for our consideration. Jesus hears. Our calls to Jesus for help does not go unheard. Every cry, every complain, every scream for help is heard. Maybe sometimes the only prayer you can pray is “Jesus help me”
The Providence Of God In Our Lives
Now the verse 4 I believe means that Lazarus should recover from this disease. It shouldn’t lead to his death. But he will die for a greater purpose. That is the glory of God
So the the glory of God, the glory of the Son is behind the supposed delay. Lazarus must die, so that there will be an opportunity for people to experience the glory of God through Jesus. This is a picture of The Providence of God working in every detail of our lives. The Providence of God simply means that God directs every detail of life and specifically our lives to his glory. Nothing takes God by surprise because everything that happens to us has a purpose.
God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and Holy Providence, according to His infallibe foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy
The apostle Paul in the popular Scripture in Romans 8:28 says that
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose
Do you believe this? We should all believe it. We should all come to that point of conviction that whatever is happening in our lives, God is at work. There is a little detail in the text. Look at v.15.
The events are meant to bring his disciples to faith in him. Truly every work of Christ is to produce faith in his people, including this. Do you have faith? Do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe that he is able to work out every aspect of your life to his glory including your salvation? Please believe it.
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