One of my favorite Bible stories
has always been when Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. It’s a
great story, but it has always left me with more questions than answers. Why
did Jesus wait until after Lazarus had been dead for four days? Why did He wait
to travel to Bethany? If he really loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, why didn’t
he drop everything and go when they sounded the alarm? I mean, this literally
was a life and death situation.
Many Jews during the first
century believed that the soul remained close to the body for three days and
could return to the body within that time period. When Jesus showed up on the
scene, all hope was plainly gone. Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days!
Surely, God had waited too long. Yet, Jesus’ timing was perfect. You see, He
doesn’t panic when He sees our predicament. He waits for the proper time so
that His power might be revealed to a world which has chosen not to acknowledge
Him.
We look at our circumstances and
think, “All hope is gone! The fourth day has passed. Perhaps yesterday, life could have been
restored to this situation but not now. In fact, let’s just bury it and try to
hide the stench.” However, God in His perfect timing arrives and says, “All is
not lost. Life will be restored. Take away the stone!” And we stand on the side
lines with our mouths gaping in utter disbelief not knowing what might come
walking out of the tomb.
Jesus still works miracles in His
timing for the glory of God. When marriages are restored that have been on the
brink of destruction, to God be the glory! When employment comes right before
financial ruin, to God be the glory! When the world sees hopeless situations
turned around through the power of God and lives are transformed, then once
again, to God be the glory!
What situations in your life do
you believe the fourth day has come and there is no hope for healing? Where
have you given up because you believe it is too late? Remember, Jesus stands
outside the tomb declaring, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would
see the glory of God?”
John 11:1-44
