I must admit, I am not particularly good at waiting. I am one of those people who is a bit hyper. Waiting and being hyperactive is not a good combination. Yet, the Bible teaches us to wait on God. In Psalm 27:14, we are told to wait on the Lord. While waiting we are to be of good courage. The Hebrew word for courage means to be strong. We are not to be discouraged because we can’t see what God is doing, but we are to continue to hope and trust in God. When we do this, He will strengthen our resolve to trust the process.
Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
In John 11:1, a discourse about the death of a man named Lazarus begins. Jesus was friends with Lazarus and his sisters, Mary, and Martha. Lazarus was sick, and Mary and Martha sent word for Jesus to come. They knew Jesus was the Messiah, and they believed He could heal their brother.
John 11:1 “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.”
This family was very dear to Jesus, and they had ministered to Jesus many times. One would think Jesus would drop everything and go to see His friends. However, that is not what happened. Jesus waited two days before he began His journey. He spoke with His disciples in John 11:11 and said, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” They didn’t understand; they proclaimed that it was good for Lazarus to sleep. Finally, Jesus tells them Lazarus is dead.
John 11:11-15 “These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleeps, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless, let us go unto him.”
When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Mary and Martha were grieving. Martha was the first to meet Jesus, then Mary. When each of them saw Him, their response was, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”
John 11:32 “ Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”
For Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ death seemed final. Yet, they believed Jesus could heal him when he was alive. They believed Jesus was the Messiah and could do all things, except raise him to life on this earth. When Jesus met Mary and Martha, they were distraught, hurting, and full of questions. Why had Jesus waited so long? Why had He allowed their brother, and His friend, to die? What was Jesus talking about when He said Lazarus would rise again? They believed in Jesus but didn’t understand the power Jesus possessed. When Jesus proclaimed Lazarus would rise again, they thought He was speaking of the resurrection at the end of time. They were still viewing their situation through physical eyes, not spiritual ones.
John 11:23-26 “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
Neither his sisters nor His disciples understood the situation. If Jesus was going to heal him, why not come immediately? Why would He allow them to suffer the pain of losing their brother? When Jesus saw the grief of Lazarus’ family, He was moved with compassion, and He wept. He heard the comments of family and friends as they asked why this man who loved this family did not heal His friend. Jesus instructed them to take away the stone. They still didn’t understand. Martha told Jesus “By this time he stinks!” When they removed the stone, Jesus reminded them if they believed they would see the glory of God!
John 11:39 “Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.”
John 11:40 “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”
They did see the glory of God when Lazarus walked out of the tomb. This gave great evidence that Jesus was the Messiah. He had power over life and death. His waiting had a maximum impact on the event. Only God could bring a man back to life who had been in the grave for four days!
God always has a purpose in our waiting, and everything in our lives is to bring glory to Him as stated in I Corinthians 10:31. It may be to increase our faith or prove our love for Him. It may be to show unbelievers the power of our God. Whatever the reason, we need to wait for God to work. Isaiah 40:31 teaches that waiting renews our strength. We will be like the eagles and soar above the situations, we can run and walk without feeling despondent.
Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Trust Jesus for tomorrow and today. He is always with us while we wait.
