Jesus is Essential
John 11:5–10: Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
The word translated “loved” here is a different word than the sisters used. It is the word agape—that unstoppable, highest type of love, the love of God. Christ loves us with that kind of love. These scriptures elevate our perspective. It explains to Christ’s praying, devoted children that no matter how it may appear, these inexplicable delays are delays of love.
That is what our text says! When we are being ravaged by the events of life, it is very difficult to believe that God really loves us. This chapter and many other Scriptures clearly claim that these delays are delays of love. God is all-powerful. He can do anything. He knows all. He even knows when a sparrow falls to the ground. He knows our plight, and he cares. 1
Walking with Jesus
Do you have a tendency to give up too soon? Is it hard to have believing faith when the obvious solutions are ignored by the ones you love the most? Are you willing to thank God for His holy delays, even when it seems like you can endure no more?
Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. Isaiah 30:18
The delaying love of Christ, will eventually become His devoted love for us.
Praying
Lord, thank You for the special way you care for me when all my hopes seem to vanish.
1. Hughes, R. K. (1998). Luke: that you may know the truth. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
