How are you? How is your week going? Do you feel loved by God today?
This past Sunday’s sermon we covered the passage leading up to Lazarus’ resurrection. I didn’t share this in the sermon, but I want you to notice these two verses:
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
What is going on here? Jesus loves Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. We know that. We have seen that in the other Gospels.
The confusing part is that BECAUSE He loves them, He waits for TWO MORE DAYS to arrive there FOUR DAYS after Lazarus passes away! If He loved them, wouldn’t He have healed Lazarus as soon as possible?
Don’t we think the same way? We know God loves us. We know He is for us. We know that He is with us. But it feels like our circumstances are telling a different story. It feels like God does not care. Or, even worse, it feels like God is punishing us.
However, we see through this passage that because Jesus loves us, He has us wait. Because Jesus loves us, He allows us to go through hardship. Because Jesus loves us, He allows us to even experience the sorrow of death.
For what purpose? Why does He do this? We see this in the preceding verse: 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
The way Jesus loves them is to show them His glory and have them experience it. Jesus loves us in the same way. He shows us His glory. He shows us the glory of His grace when we are confronted with our sin. He shows us the glory of His presence when we are confronted with difficult circumstances. He shows us the glory of His redemption when we are confronted with our shame. He shows us the glory of His power when He restores and redeems us.
This is guaranteed to us through the cross. On the cross, He took on our sin and shame. On the cross, He reconciled us with God. On the cross, He took on our death. And through the resurrection, He gives us new life. He has accomplished the impossible of redeeming us by doing the impossible of dying for us.
Maybe you’re in a period of waiting. Maybe you’re in a period of hardship. Maybe it seems like God is not listening or God is punishing you. Do not lose hope. Do not lose faith. Trust in and cling to our Savior. He is over us. He is in us. He is with us. He is doing something through it. He is working all things for His glory and for our good. He is doing it, because He loves us.
Meditate on and be encouraged by this truth today and this week. God bless you guys, and see you on Sunday for Lord’s Day Worship.
ANNOUNCEMENT: PLEASE DO NOT PARK AT THE BUSINESS PARK OR OFFICE BUILDING. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO PARK IN A SPOT IN OUR PARKING LOT AND NOT IN THE FIRE LANE. THANK YOU!
In Christ,
Pastor Tim
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