Max's Weekly Musings
Vol. 11, No. 27, for the week of September 7-20, 2008
John 11:1-15

I am late with the Musings for last week and early for the one for this week.  Will try to make this one fit both weeks.  I have my first week of fall classes under the belt.  I am teaching four classes this fall in four different locations.  So, if it is Monday, then it must be Genesis-Esther in Annandale.  If it is Tuesday, then it must be the Book of Isaiah in Buffalo.  If it is Wednesday, then it must be New Testament Survey in Eden Prairie.  Finally, if it is Thursday, then it must be Genesis-Esther in Princeton.  Now, if I can just keep all that straight.  I have a total of about 50 students in those locations.  That means I have 50 essays to read each week - part of the homework requirement for Village Schools.  I figure I will be spending between 6 and 8 hours a week just reading papers.  But it is a way in which I grow myself.  The students make so many incredible discoveries when they begin to really study deeply the Scriptures.  Just this past week I had one student write a ten-page article on how she would use the first eleven chapters of Genesis to introduce a friend to Christ.  It was very moving.  In addition I am in the midst of preparing a budget for our ministry for 2009.  Tough given the economic conditions of our world right now.  But we do trust the Lord for His provisions.  Also, our ministry is going through some organizational changes which always brings interesting times.  Any way my plate is full.  But I am blessed!

This coming weekend Marlys and I will be making a fast trip down to Iowa to watch our grandson, Josiah, play in a football game.  He is in his second year of playing Park District football.  I think he is having fun.  The following weekend my Mom has secured a ride to come up and see us for a couple of days.  We hope the weather will cooperate so we can show her Minnesota in its finest moment - the Fall.  Come and see us!  It is a beautiful season of the year.  Now, if winter was not just around the corner...oh well, can't have everything.

For the next couple of sessions together I want us to turn to one of the most familiar stories and miracles from the life of Jesus.  It is found in John 11.  We know it as the resurrection of Lazarus.  Now we know that Jesus had no earthly home of his own.  But here in this home in Bethany, Jesus found that serenity which He needed.  There He could go for rest form the tensions of life.  There He found three people who loved Him deeply.  There was Martha - practical, business like, thoughtful of all that could affect the comfort and well-being of those she loved.  Then there was Mary - spiritual, gifted with the delicacy of insight and tender compassion.  And there was their brother Lazarus - a quiet man of few words.  In fact, the Bible records no words from the lips of Lazarus.  Jesus loved each one.  At the heart and foundation of all God's dealings with us, however dark and mysterious they may be, there is the infinite, unmerited, unchanging love of God.

Lazarus becomes sick.  We do not know the nature of his illness, but his sisters were concerned about his condition enough that they sent a messenger to deliver the news of the critical need to Jesus.  Interestingly enough, the message included no request for Jesus to come to Bethany.  They reasoned that such a request was unnecessary.  They knew that the simple statement that they were in need would bring Jesus to them. 

But the Gospel writer's statement in verse 6 gives us cause for pause.  Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.  Why did Jesus delay His coming?  Perhaps Jesus abstained from going, not because He did not love Lazarus and his sisters, but because He did love them.  Perhaps Jesus recognized that it is often through suffering and pain that we come to realize just who we truly are.  Remember those first words from James: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (James 1:2-3).  The apostle Paul would express a similar thought: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-4).  Perhaps Jesus understood that pain often drives us into the arms of Jesus.  Suffering robs us of proud self-reliance and casts us in the agony at the feet of Jesus.  The pedals of a rose must be crushed to make perfume.  The ore must be burned to make gold.  The pebble must be polished to shine brightly.  Perhaps Jesus knew that unless Lazarus died, then Mary and Martha would never come to know Him as the resurrection and the life.  David would never have know God as his Rock, his Fortress, and his Deliverer if he had not been hunted on the hills of En Gedi.  In every suffering we catch a new glimpse of Jesus' character.  Finally pain often benefits others.  Verse 15 states: So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.  But let us go to him."  Mary and Martha's suffering provided a platform from which Jesus accomplished His greatest miracle. 

A second truth I find in these early verses is this: God sometimes leaves our prayers unanswered.  Why is it that so many of our prayers are unanswered?  Were we deficient in earnestness?  Not necessarily.  Were we deficient in perseverance?  Not necessarily.  Were we deficient in faith?  Not necessarily.  Mary and Martha were sincere and earnest in their prayers that Jesus would come.  They were confident that He would come.  Yet their prayers went unanswered.  Why?  I think God wanted them to know Jesus in a way that could only come about if Lazarus died.  Friends, God always sends the answer.  God will give it at the earliest moment consistent with the true well-being of the one He loves.  God answered Abraham's prayer - but only after Abraham waited decades.  God answered Simeon and Anna's prayers - but only after they waited years looking for Christ's coming.  Jesus always acts in His own time.  And there are lessons we can learn even in the waiting.

Now here is what I find incredibly interesting.  During those two days of waiting, what did Jesus see?  He saw the messengers return to Mary and Martha.  He observed those waning moments in the life of His friend.  He witnessed the death, funeral, and entombment of Lazarus.  And He saw the grief of the sisters.  After all this, Jesus says "It is time to go."  Jesus could only act when there was no other hope.  Did Jesus care about Mary, Martha, and Lazarus?  Absolutely.  He cared for them more than they could ever know.  And Jesus cares for each of us with a similar care.  We need to wait in patience for Him.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.  (Donald Laird)

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