May 20
John 11:1-54
“If only….” That hanging phrase causes so much angst. Especially in the case of Martha, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” We may feel in our own lives that there have been many “if only” moments where God did not step in, which caused uncertainty in our lives. When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb four days. Four days of sorrow, grief, and confusion for Mary, Martha, and others. The power of sin and death had been unleashed, and Lazarus was dead in the tomb. Yet this was not the end of the story. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life” (v.25). He called Lazarus from the tomb, and the wrapped Lazarus came forth.
Notice the results of Jesus’ delay, his willingness to cause people to ask the “if only…” questions. Many of the Jews attending the tomb that day “put their faith in him.” Lives were impacted for eternity because Jesus allowed Lazarus to die. It also instigated the religious leaders to become more zealous about killing him which would ultimately allow “one man [to] die for the nation.” Lazarus’ death and return to life, ultimately led to Jesus’ death which became the means of life for all of us. So, the “if only…” may not make sense to us, but God chooses to use those exact scenarios for our good and for his glory.
Lord, I do not understand some of your delays. Help me to trust you will bring glory to your name in your delay. Amen.
Is there an “if only…” in your life with which you need to trust God?
“If only….” That hanging phrase causes so much angst. Especially in the case of Martha, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” We may feel in our own lives that there have been many “if only” moments where God did not step in, which caused uncertainty in our lives. When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb four days. Four days of sorrow, grief, and confusion for Mary, Martha, and others. The power of sin and death had been unleashed, and Lazarus was dead in the tomb. Yet this was not the end of the story. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life” (v.25). He called Lazarus from the tomb, and the wrapped Lazarus came forth.
Notice the results of Jesus’ delay, his willingness to cause people to ask the “if only…” questions. Many of the Jews attending the tomb that day “put their faith in him.” Lives were impacted for eternity because Jesus allowed Lazarus to die. It also instigated the religious leaders to become more zealous about killing him which would ultimately allow “one man [to] die for the nation.” Lazarus’ death and return to life, ultimately led to Jesus’ death which became the means of life for all of us. So, the “if only…” may not make sense to us, but God chooses to use those exact scenarios for our good and for his glory.
Lord, I do not understand some of your delays. Help me to trust you will bring glory to your name in your delay. Amen.
Is there an “if only…” in your life with which you need to trust God?
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