Redemption Part 2

Here I am back tonight with redemption on my mind yet again. Safe to say I am stuck on the story of Lazarus of the interaction of Jesus with his sisters Mary and Martha. Jesus knew Lazarus was sick and yet stayed two more days in the place He was before He went to Him. The Bible says that Jesus and Lazarus where friends and He spent time with both Lazarus and his sisters. Mary and Martha sent Jesus a message telling Him that Lazarus was sick and yet He stays. Why? What is it that caused Jesus to "ignore" the plea of two sisters whom He knew and loved?

"Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, 'Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.' When Jesus heard that, He said, 'This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.' Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was."
John 11:3-6

The Bible doesn't really say why Jesus stayed and didn't go right to Lazarus, but I have to believe that what Jesus says in verse 4 is the reason...that God might be glorified. The story goes on to tell of Jesus making the trip to Judea to see His sick friend...only He arrives to late. Martha comes out to meet Jesus and has a conversation with him that has moved my heart:

Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Now even now I know that whatever You ask of god, God will give You. Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise again. Martha said to Him, I know hat he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? She said to him, Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."

This exchange hit me so differently then ever before. She believed in the power of God and the ability of Jesus to do something in the middle of a hopeless situation, but she didn't really believe that hope could hit her reality and change the circumstances from hopeless to miraculous. Jesus challenged that. How many times as Christians do we know the right answer, but we don't really expect it to hit our reality? I know I have done it. I grew up in the church and know all the right answers, but it comes down to what do I believe about Jesus and His willingness and ability to redeem? The story ends with Jesus calling out to the dead man who had been in a tomb for four days, long dead and beginning to decay, and he walks out of the tomb alive and healthy.

What dreams, hopes or expectations have died in your life? Those places where you have gone before God and from the place of pain asked Him why he didn't show up? Had He just been there the thing that was most precious to you wouldn't now be laying in a tomb dead and decaying past all hope of resurrection. I know I have those places. God did you even care? Why didn't you show up? In the middle of my pain, His still small voice comes through and asks do you believe? My Christian response is yes I do...but then to still hold onto what is dead. If I really believe Jesus is who He says He is and that He is the resurrection and the Life then its time to roll back the stone and give Jesus access to the grave yard and believe that what once broke my heart will be for the glory of God and yet again live. He is the resurrection and and Life.








That used to be easy for me to agree with. Its the normal Christian response. But what circumstances in my life have I cried out to God for His intervention and He seemed to not respond to me? The longer I walk with God and realize that my desire isn't to have a label as a Christian, but to truly walk as a little Christ. Those are