"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)

John 11:1-44
When our children were young, we had a Christmas morning tradition. They could get up as early as they liked and play with the trinkets in their stockings, but would have to wait until we awoke to open the big gifts under the tree together. They could also eat their fill of the treats in their stockings, but would have to wait to enjoy our Christmas feast together.


Jesus, being told that His friend Lazarus was seriously ill, was asked to come right away to heal him. But, curiously, He waited to come until Lazarus died. Mary and Martha were devastated. Why had Jesus lingered so? Didn’t He love them?


But Jesus had waited out of His love, to reveal two things: God’s glory, and that He was the Resurrection and the Life. Had Jesus simply healed Lazarus, they would have been thrilled. But, like the trinkets and treats in a Christmas stocking, that was only a foretaste of the gifts and feast that was theirs because Jesus waited to celebrate something infinitely superior together: resurrection from the dead!



Scripture Focus

John 11:1-44

Insight

ARE YOU ANXIOUS THAT GOD HAS WAITED SO LONG THAT HE MIGHT BE TOO LATE? WAIT; BELIEVE IN JESUS - HE'S THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE!

Bible In A Year

  • Hosea 9-11
  • Proverbs 14
  • 1 Peter 2-3

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