Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
‘Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days’. (John 11:5,6)
We read in John’s gospel, that when Lazarus fell sick, his sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick”. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s son may be glorified through it.” ‘Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.’ (John 11:3-6)
How well Mary, Martha and Lazarus knew Jesus and His love for them! How much Jesus loved them! Yet when Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, He did not take a hasty decision and do His own will, but obeyed His Father in heaven. Nor did He try to please Lazarus, Mary and Martha by reaching them immediately. After two days when He told His disciples to get ready to go to Judea, they advised him not to go there as the Jews there had tried to stone Him the last time He had been there. On hearing that, Jesus did not try to please His disciples either, but went to Bethany, for He had come to do the will of His Father in heaven. How well Jesus knew His Father’s plan and purpose for Lazarus’ sickness!
This incident teaches us a very important lesson. When we pray for our needs or intercede on behalf of others, no matter how much the Lord loves us or them, He does everything to bring glory to God. Whatever God wants to accomplish through our lives and circumstances are accomplished through the works that God does through us. For our God is an impartial God and is the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus came to Earth to set an example for us to follow. As His disciples we have to follow in His footsteps and do everything as the Lord instructs us to do. No servant is greater than his master. So we should let the Holy Spirit lead us and work through us in such a manner that Jesus is lifted up and glorified in our lives and in the lives of others. When we seek self-glory, we mess up the perfect work that God wants to do in our lives and in the lives of others.
When Jesus reached Bethany, Martha went out to meet Him and said,” Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Some of the Jews who were comforting the two mourning sisters said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept him from dying?” (John 11:21, 32, 37) Even when people around us are confused and express their expectations, like Martha, Mary, the disciples and the Jews comforting them expressed, we must hear from the Holy Spirit and do as we are counselled, just like Jesus did!
When Jesus saw them weeping and grieving, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. He wept with them as He watched them sorrowing over the death of their dear one. Even today when we grieve over sorrowful happenings in our lives and in the lives of our dear ones, Jesus is deeply moved. He cares for us. But He does all things in a manner by which each of us will see His resurrection power help us in our weakness to enjoy His grace.
‘When Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in Him.’ (John 11:41-45) Thus God glorified His Son and showed the people that He always heard His Son so that they may believe that He sent Him. May God give us the grace to trust Him and in His perfect plans. Let us wait for His plan to unfold in our lives and the lives of the ones we intercede for. He will make all things perfect in His time. Let us always desire and earnestly pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on Earth as it is in heaven.
God bless you.
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