Jesus Waits Two Days

John 11: 1-6

We may be living in an age of great medical advancements, however, most of us have heard the words, "I'm sorry, there is nothing else we can do for them", spoken by a doctor regarding someone we love. These words can fill us with despair; if the doctor is helpless against the disease, we are even more so.

This is where we find Mary and Martha, the two sisters of Lazarus. Concern fills their hearts, Lazarus is very ill. It doesn't mention a doctor's visit, hospital stay, or aggressive testing. Most of what we know about healing the sick didn't exist at the time of Jesus. So it isn't hard to understand why people followed Jesus to ask for a healing touch - for themselves and their loved ones.

Mary, Martha and Lazarus knew that Jesus had the power to heal. When Lazarus is ill, it is natural that the sisters would send a message to Jesus, "Lord the one you love is sick."

I've always found what happens next somewhat troubling. If you love someone who is sick, and you have the power to heal them - wouldn't you drop everything and rush to their side? Jesus doesn't do that, instead He stays where He is for two more days. Troubling, until I remember Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

The higher purpose in this case is God being glorified through Lazarus' sickness.

Jesus loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus; they know He loves them. Because He loves them He stays where He is for two more days.

Which makes me wonder - when we are praying desperately for Jesus to heal someone we love, and it looks like He doesn't hear us, isn't answering - is staying away, could it be because He has a higher purpose for that illness to serve?

What comfort to know that our great God, "...has gracious intentions even in seeming delays." (Matthew Henry)