The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"A Greater Miracle"
The sisters of Lazarus sent word to the Lord Jesus Christ that Lazarus was sick, clearly desiring Him to come to Bethany and heal their brother. The Lord's response, however, seemed less than urgent.
"When He had heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was" (John 11:6).
Lazarus had died and "lain in the grave four days" before the Lord reached Bethany, resulting in both Mary and Martha expressing the same anguish: "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother hadst not died." This led to the Lord's raising of Larazus from the dead, a far greater miracle than a healing would have involved. Moreover, the Savior's delay and subsequent miracle of resurrection illustrates a truth we will all need to know and believe as we walk with God and seek His grace in the challenges of life.
"Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord" (Psalm 27:14).
Had the Lord Jesus arrived before Lazarus' death, He might well have prevented His friend's demise. God's purpose and power would have been revealed, and Lazarus' healing would have greatly glorified the Lord. His resurrection, however, glorified God far more. Applied to our lives, how often does our Heavenly Father seem to delay His working on our behalf? How often might we join Mary and Martha in the plaintive utterance, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here…". Most importantly, however, how often would we miss a greater working of our Lord if He acted according to our understanding and timetable? We might well miss seeing a "resurrection" if God satisfied our desire for a "healing." The principle applies in so many ways and means of our Heavenly Father's working on our behalf. Delay often leads to delight and wonder of a far greater measure when we must wait on the Lord for workings of His hand that seem beyond the realm of possibility. "Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).
John does not record the response of Mary and Martha to their brother's resurrection. We do not read of their eyes widened in wonder, or of the countless tears of joy that fell. We know nothing of their expressions of praise, and thanksgiving expressed to the Lord Jesus, or the greeting to their risen brother that surely ensued. We only know this: delay surely led to delight of a measure that would never have been know had the Lord Jesus acted according to human rather than divine timetables. It also resulted in a Biblical account that has shined light into the hearts of millions through the ages, illuminating the truth that in countless ways, when God's delays seem to allow something to die, a miracle of glorious resurrection will be forthcoming.
"My times are in Thy hand."
(Psalm 31:15)
Weekly Memory Verse
Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord.
(Psalm 27:14)
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