Thursday, April 10, 2014

Jesus Delays That Many Might Believe

John 11:3-4
Jesus Delays That Many Might Believe

     The sisters therefore sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” But when Jesus heard it, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

     This is the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead which makes what Jesus said to be something we have to look at closely, for He tells His disciples that the sickness is not unto death which led them to the conclusion that Lazarus would not have to endure the pain of dying. Then Jesus finishes with telling them that He will be glorified by Lazarus’ recovery.
      As we read the story, Lazarus’ sickness did cause him to physically die and he had to undergo his trial with patience knowing that even if he were to die, death itself was no match for Jesus’ authority and power.
     So let me ask us, how many of us have had a trial where we knew Jesus would intervene, and indeed He had even given us promises that He would, and yet the conclusion is that He did not rescue us from the loss of those things? That great ending where God victoriously rescues us, did not happen. Now as we continue to read in the next two verses of this chapter it says that after hearing the news of Lazarus’ sickness, He delayed two more days during which time Lazarus died. So Jesus gets an urgent request from Mary and Martha and yet delays in going to them.
     So the question is – why did Jesus delay? He knew the delay would mean physical death for His friend whom He loved. So why did He delay in going and healing him and keeping him from enduring anything more. And at the same time, saving Himself from the frustrated and sorrowful feelings that were stirred up in Mary and Martha towards Him because of it, so much so that when Mary confronted Him He wept for her grief. The answer is found in the second part of His statement. “This sickness is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”
     Jesus allows His friend Lazarus to be part of a great miracle to demonstrate the truth of who He was, the Son of God. It says later on in this chapter that so many people believed in Jesus because of this miracle that the priests were afraid the entire nation would be won over to Christ because of it! Lazarus was a well known man who lived just outside of Jerusalem and many people were at his funeral and then witnessed him raised from the dead. It says that Jesus did not arrive until Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days, long enough for many people to have heard and witnessed the truth of it. They then became eye-witnesses to his resurrection through Jesus.
     So what I want to say to each of you today is, if you have experienced the four days in the tomb or are just experiencing them, this sickness is not unto death! For though you should die physically or lose everything, Jesus is the resurrection and the life and this sickness will be for the glory of God and many will believe in Jesus because of it. So be of good courage for He is weeping and enduring it with you while He delays, but as David says in Psalm 126:5-6 “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting, and he who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

     Be strong and of good courage my brothers and sisters! Our God is awesome and He will be glorified in these things and many will be saved because of it!



51 comments:

  1. Dear Seth,

    This is a very powerful display of JESUS Divinity. Think of all the people who saw this miracle and believed then, YES "this is truly the Son of GOD"
    It excites me all the time when I am reminded of authorized power of JESUS to save us, who believe and call upon HIS name.

    To think of it... JESUS could have healed Lazarus during his sickness but that did not happen. My understanding is that "even if JESUS had taken 5 or 6 days to get to Lazarus' tomb, the result would be the same. At the sound of JESUS' voice Lazarus would have heard and come forth from the dead"

    I love JESUS. HE was so powerful but very humble servant. And b/c of HIS obedience to our Father, GOD anyone can have life should we believe in HIM, JESUS.

    Just to share: "Hooray for JESUS, Hooray for JESUS
    Someone in the crowd is shouting HOORAY for JESUS,
    (clap, clap, clap, clap) Who're you gonna shout for,
    JESUS, its who."

    GOD's Blessings,

    Sophia, CT

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  2. I believe an important requirement to be healed by Jesus and to give glory to Him is to have 100% faith that He could heal you . I believe everyone in the bible that went to Jesus or was healed by Him had 100% faith that He could heal them. It was not 99% or anything close to it. It had to be 100% faith. I believe only under this circumstance can one plead to Jesus and be healed.

    I also believe if a person who has a sickness goes to a person who claims to have the gift of The Holy Spirit to heal, if either one of them, the person laying of hands, or the person praying to be healed has less than 100% faith ( doubt) the person pleading to be healed will NOT be healed AND will NOT be able to give the kind of glory to Jesus that Jesus refers to in John 11:3-4 .
    Claudette Naugatuck

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  3. I believe an important requirement to be healed by Jesus and to give glory to Him is to have 100% faith that He could heal you . I believe everyone in the bible that went to Jesus or was healed by Him had 100% faith that He could heal them. It was not 99% or anything close to it. It had to be 100% faith. I believe only under this circumstance can one plead to Jesus and be healed.

    I also believe if a person who has a sickness goes to a person who claims to have the gift of The Holy Spirit to heal, if either one of them, the person laying of hands, or the person praying to be healed has less than 100% faith ( doubt) the person pleading to be healed will NOT be healed AND will NOT be able to give the kind of glory to Jesus that Jesus refers to in John 11:3-4 .
    Claudette Naugatuck

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  4. Jesus is truely the Son of God. He makes the blind see, the cripple walk and He raises the dead. Hebert Haiti

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  5. I think Jesus, response was good and said a lot. All that pain people went through when Lazurus died was to glorify God. It had to be done. It even speaks to this day. How what we go through can help another person and bring Glory to God. Marie 24 Wtby

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  6. I think that Jesus response for the delay was cause he was a very powerful man and he was helpful worship man.
    Sandra 24 Waterbury

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  7. My name is Sabrina. I am a mother of 3 children that were taken away from me by the DCF because there dad disiplined our oldest with a belt. Now he is incarcerated and alone. Now the courts said he cant have any contact. They are tearing my family apart. Wehave been together for 17 yrs. We can do better and not apart. Please pray for my family to reunite. We are not perfect but we live for our children and love. (Will join Wednesday 7am)

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  8. I believe Jesus meant if you can have faith in him even when things are taugh, he will bring blessings to you. Just believe in him-
    Nicole Waterbury

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  9. He delayed becsuse Lazarus had to endure a trisl in order to desurve the resuration and their for making the expierence a lesson on the valu ve of life. Jesues had a lesson in everything he did and this one of the many. Steven naugatuck

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  10. Its seemed like he was waiting because he wanted to save his bestfriend but he had to wait for a good purpose to be let into heaven-

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  11. What Jeus was doing, was to show wveryone no matter how sick you get,if you trust and believe in him, you can over come any sickness. Haros, The Family Worship Center

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  12. I think Jesus sacrificed Lazarus for a bigger purpose. The purpose of the story was to establish there's always greater things at work. Sometimes tragic things happen so that better things can happen. Walter D. Waterbury

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  13. He knew it was not onto death. Ed -Wtby

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  14. I believe he delayed healing Lazareth because Jesus wanted to prove himself as the Son of God. He wanted to show what he was capable of. Eboni Wtby

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  15. I know Jesus is good. If you don't believe in Jesus try Him and you will see who He is. Cassandra Wtby

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  16. Not sure, in alot of pain myself. Tim Wtby

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  17. Forgive me of my sins and to have oatients. Because the good will come to those who wait for Him and believe in the miracle that comes with Love. Ricky Wtby

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  18. He did it so the people ould believe even some didnt it happen anyway. Dora Wtby

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  19. Should Jesus be here today I think he would heal my sickness. Its all about faith. Lord be with you. Amen. Charlie Wtby

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  20. For you to be a friend of Jesus you have to be blessed . Lazarus was an example of this statement . Jesus spared His friend Lazarus on more than one miraculous way. The had a bond that was Spiritual and Lazarus who was definetly a believer in Jesus was chosen by Jesus to have his life delayed for purposes that was so spiritual ,buteventually Lazarus was laid to rest and for the time to play a big part of this. The ressurection of them both explains much deeper connection between Jesus and his friend Lazarus that they both live on in us all.
    My experienc with mymedical problems to get better. I do believe that we're all being Lazarus until Jesus allow the problems to subside and we have faith and so hope in Jesus. Sandy Wtby

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  21. My opinion is that Jesus faith in his father was good and he trust his father and in his name be glorified and being Lazarus to life and teach his people to have faith in him. Gloria Wtby

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  22. I beleive that we are all strang animals. I know "god" is not the sterotypical man in the sky with a beard. If he is real he is something so amazing that we cant even understand or imagine or comprehend.
    I think I am going to hell because I am a sinner.
    ZACK

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  23. I go to church maybe 3 times a year and I do it because I do believe in God. Brian Seymour

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  24. God just wanted people to believe in him and trust and have faith in Jesus.
    Please pray for the Diggs Family.
    Carla Wtby

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  25. Jesus said to be a part of a great miracle to be demonstrated about the truth. Cause he was saying He great the sickness of the glory of god. Crystal Wtby

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  26. I believe Jesus delayed saving Lazarus so that everyone who saw and read about it would believe. As Jesus once said "because you have seen, you believe, but blessed are these who have not seen and still believe." Naya Wtby

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  27. This is really deep. Reeading this page alone is really moving. I felt he wanted to be taught lesson. Betty Waterbury

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  28. I wouldnt be so worried about why Jesus would delay. Even though he didnt reach His friend in time, Jesus had his time for his death on the cross that he wanted if not to delay then to not have to endure it at all according to his prayer to his father. If he being connected to the Father in prayer would have meant that faith in His Father saved His friend. Devon Wtby

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  29. God is good all times. He wouldn't put you through anything you can't handle. Everything happens for a reason,maybe sometimes to test your strength of Faith. You have to believe. If you put God first, you would never be lost last. Chevalier Danbury

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  30. I had a lot of death in my life and I know what it is like to lose someone special. Skip Wtby

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  31. It was a good story. Darianna Wtby

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  32. Jesus delayed to see if he had any faith. Sharon Wtby

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  33. This is good. Was interesting. Jesus is everything. If it wasn't for him nobody will be here. Elvira Wtby

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  34. I believe in the delay. I do. Wilma

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  35. I think he forgives me. I serve The Lord, our Father. Can you pray for my grandaughter who is 7 who has cancer?
    Dennis Wtby

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  36. Because of His love for a friend he cried.Thank you Jesus for stepping in the tomb. John Wtby

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  37. I believe that Jesus waited to help to reveal who he was. Although it did pain him and knew his friend was suffering he wanted to show his true power and that he is theSon of God. Jayrell Wtby

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  38. I read the bible a lot. I remember Mark 14 or 10. Jesus is my Savior. I will be on the white horse with angles. Jeffry

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  39. I liked the story. Veronica Wtby

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  40. I never known to delay a healing. He said this sickness is for the glory og God and the Son og God may be glorified by it. Grace Salisbury, NC

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  41. I aint very religious. He is the best. Everyone needs to have some belief. Because of him there's belief. Andrew Wtby

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  42. I'm Catholic. James Wtby

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  43. I don't believe in religion only Jesus Lord of Lords Christ King of kings my Savior my Jehova. Billy - Kidd Wtby

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  44. IT WAS INTERESTING. NAOMI

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  45. Jesus show his power. He is enduring the sickness with you. Jeffrey Wtby

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  46. Jesus delayed raising Lazurus because he wanted people to witness for themselves. Ovianne

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  47. Never lose faith in him cause when you least expect it he will show why ewe believe in him. Lajunice Wtby

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  48. I think Jesus response was a good onè. Waleska Wtby

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  49. Jesus demonstrated the power of God so everybôdy else can witness the power of God's love. Adrea Wtby

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  50. I think it was good stuff that he did. Marano

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  51. I am very familiar with the story. It is a story that puzzles me. Why didnt Jesus save him immediately? I have come to believe that delayed it for all our sakes. That could gain faith by understanding. We see the power of his love and glory if we accept it. So many people have misinterpretted the story for their own sake. Victor Wtby

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