Holy Week: Who is Jesus?

Jesus by the Jesus Painter

     Today's post is about one of my favorite miracles that Jesus did while on Earth.  I think the reason I love it so much is because I find it to be true of God's nature and of human nature.  In John 11, we find that Jesus' close friends, Mary and Martha, have sent word to him that their brother, another close friend of Jesus, was very sick.  Mary and Martha's special relationship with Jesus allowed them to know the truth, that Jesus had God's power, that He could do anything.  They knew that Jesus could heal their brother.  Talk about being filled with faith!  Jesus responds in an interesting way, "This sickness will not end in death.  No it is for God's glory so that God's son may be glorified through it.."  But instead of leaving where He was at, Jesus stayed for two more days, in which Mary and Martha's brother, Lazarus, dies.  Whoa!   Stop and let that sink in for a moment.  Here are Mary and Martha,  having a bold, faith filled prayer to ask Jesus to heal their brother.  Jesus promises them that it wouldn't end in death.  But then Lazarus died.  Have you ever had that situation?  You had so much faith that God would come through on something for you.  Maybe it was a job.  Maybe it was to restore health to someone.  Perhaps it was for a relationship.  Whatever it was, the situation did not turn out at all like you expected.  Then what happens?

    Like Mary and Martha, when Jesus arrives in Bethany, we come to Jesus with a broken heart.  We are disappointed that God did not answer our faith in the way we thought.  We might be angry, we might be sad, and we might even be doubtful about God.  We may even avoid God because we are not sure if He can handle our emotions.  But look at what Jesus says to Mary after seeing her broken heart and weeping, "Where have you laid him?"  They walk over to Lazarus' grave and then Jesus weeps with the sisters.  Jesus demonstrates the words in Hebrews that we do not have a high priest that is unable to sympathize with us. Jesus demonstrates to us that when things don't go as we expect, He is not a far off God that leaves us on our own. No, He is right there beside us, weeping because our hearts are broken. He never leaves us, but is right there.
Then the Glory of God is shown. Jesus then gives thanks to His Father and the calls Lazarus back from the dead. The astonishment rippled through the observers. You see, Jewish tradition taught that after three days, a person's soul officially was gone from the body. Lazarus had been dead for four days. Jesus' miracle demonstrates that nothing is too impossible for God. Can you imagine the crowd witnessing it? I don't know about you, but for me, it would have made me realize that Jesus was who He said He was- the Son of God. It speaks to the power of God, and I believe is even a greater testimonial than if Jesus had healed Lazarus from his illness. It gives me great comfort to know that the ultimate goal in life is to let God's glory shine in the best way to let others believe in Him.
Back to that prayer request that you feel is dead. Back to the disappointment that you feel because things didn't happen the way you expected. Turn to Jesus and tell Him how you feel. Then give thanks to the Father that you know this situation you are in will not be wasted. God's glory will shine through in the best way. Put your hope and trust in that. Romans 8:28- "And we know that in ALL THINGS God works together for the good of those called according to His purpose."