2-2-2014

Good Morning to All,

    John 11:6; “So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”

    “I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date!”  This was the start of a song from “Alice in Wonderland”.  The White Rabbit was always running around and always lost or late getting somewhere.  Many of us have had that experience.  There are often times when we run late and feel tired and worn to a frazzle because of it.  We are late to an appointment, or late on a payment or late getting to work or school but have you ever been late on purpose?

    I remember talking to a school superintendent about a student that wanted to transfer to his school.  It seemed that the student had argued with a teacher more than was necessary.  It also seemed that the parents were on the side of the student.  The student was quite an athlete and the parents assumed that some school would want him really quick.  The father let a message for the superintendent to call before one of the other schools did.  After the superintendent heard the phone message, he waited a few days to call the father back.  The father told him it was too late, they were already going to school “B”; the father didn’t see the superintendent’s smile over the phone.

    You may have been late but have you ever been intentionally late?  Have you ever delayed an action in order to avoid it all together?  Have you ever made a call too late to go to the dinner party you wanted to avoid?  Most of us have done it and it is probably rude to do so.  Yet we excuse ourselves by claiming we are sparing the feelings of those whom we avoid.  Yet sometimes the delay may be more painful than the truth or it may even cause further trouble.  That can be human nature but what about Jesus, why did he wait two days?

    Jesus knew Lazarus was sick, deathly sick.  He knew Lazarus would die.  Yet he waited two days before going to see him, why?  Was Jesus uncaring about Lazarus; no because when Jesus was told Lazarus had died, he wept.  So what was the purpose?  The purpose was so that God would be glorified.  Even though Martha and Mary had asked Jesus to come, he waited for a couple of days so that God would be glorified.

    This can give us some comfort when we feel at times that God isn’t listening.  Sometimes we pray but it seems that God isn’t listening.  God hears you and he answers you but in his time and in his way.  Sometimes what we ask isn’t always the best for us or according to his will.  We do not always understand God’s ways but we do know that He is a God of love and whose desire is for us to live with him in his kingdom; he has demonstrated this.  So even if he waits a couple of days, his grace is there.

Father of all grace and truth, sometimes when we come to you, we do not hear the answer we seek or in the time we seek it.  Give us the strength to wait; to wait in joyful expectation that your grace will see us through.  Be with those who are waiting and wondering now.  Comfort them and guide them.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret