When Jesus Waits

When Jesus Waits

John 11:10-16 

 

Illus. Passing the time.

 

      This morning, in John 11, we will study the first part of a story centered around the circumstances of a family Jesus loved dearly. The names are familiar: Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus. The chapter begins with Jesus receiving word that Lazarus was sick. Mary and Martha send a message to Jesus about it, but as the story continues, we see that Jesus waits two days before beginning to head that way. After the two days, we learn that Lazarus had died. While we will not finish the entire chapter this morning, we know that Jesus ended up resurrecting Lazarus to life, but this morning we are going to focus on the first section, which shows us that Jesus waited. We will look at what was true in this story and apply it to the situations we face in our lives, specifically what to do when Jesus waits.

In the Bible, we consistently see the importance, opportunity, and call to wait on God…

 

Psalm 27:14, Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.

 

Psalm 37:7, Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.

 

Psalm 37:34, Wait for the Lord and keep His way…

 

Isaiah 40:31, those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

 

These verses can be found amongst a long list of verses centered on waiting. With that, we will read through the first 16 verses of this story and ask the question, what are we to do when Jesus waits?

 

Read: John 11:1-16

 

            Chapter 11 begins with a message coming to Jesus from Mary and her sister Martha. The message is given this way to Him, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” At that time, we know Jesus was beyond the Jordan, and the messenger had traveled a day’s journey from Bethany, where Lazarus, Martha, and Mary were from. We don’t know what the sickness was, but some sickness came upon Lazarus. And as it seemed to have gotten worse, his sisters sent a messenger to Jesus. They believed if Jesus was there, He would take care of it.

            I love the message they send, “Jesus, the one whom you love is sick.” Certainly, there are times when those Jesus loves are sick; there is no denying it. And sometimes, they are not healed right away, or at all. We don’t always know why, but we can be sure that Jesus has a response and reason, even if at times we wish the response was different. In this case, the family was going to have to wait, because what we see is that Jesus decided to wait…What we also see clearly, however, was that through the sickness Lazarus had, God was going to get glory. They would need to wait to see it, because Jesus was going to wait before responding. Though He waited, He knew what was true and what He was going to do. Though He knew, Mary and Martha were waiting and were not seeing things moving; Jesus was waiting, and they were waiting on Him. 

 

1. Be Still, He Knows the Whole Story

 

John 11:6, “This sickness is not meant for death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

 

• Jesus had just received what we would classify as bad news about a friend who He loved.

 

• He gets the news, and what he decided to do is wait, stay in the same place for two more days.

 

• Jesus wasn’t rushed, or anxious, or startled, or rushed.

 

• This is a storm in their life, physically, and Jesus calmly responds, “this is not meant for death, but for the glory of God.”

 

• Spiritually, this statement is true for everyone who has given their lives to Christ and Jesus loves as His disciples.

 

• There is a reality in the life of a believer, that nothing a person goes through is meant for death, but is for the glory of God.

 

• From Isaiah 43:7 we know that we are created for God’s glory. And there are difficulties we go through in this life, but for those in Christ death is not where the difficulty in your story is going to take you, but difficulty in one’s story can certainly bring God glory.

 

John 16:33, In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

 

• Jesus knows there is tribulations, but He also knows the whole story, He has overcome the world.

 

Philippians 4:6-7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

 

• These verses are important and powerful, specifically, and particularly when we have something to be anxious about.

 

• Jesus models this to us and for us. He sees the greater reality, God gets glory in our waiting, and spiritually, once you have life in Him, nothing is meant for death.

 

• For Lazarus, Jesus was referring to his physical death, Jesus was going to resurrect him, he knew what he was going to do. But nobody else knew exactly what or how Jesus was going to do what He was going to do.

 

John 11:5-6, (Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.) So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.

 

• Verses 5 and 6 are interesting verse because we learn the situation in the first four verses, then we are told that Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus and then then in verse six, so He stayed two days longer…

 

• That word so is also translated “therefore” or “because of this…”

 

• It is interesting when you put it together… “Jesus loved them, therefore He stayed right where He was for two more days…”

 

• Most would be tempted to think those two verses had a typo somewhere…We perhaps think it should be written something like this, “Jesus loved them, so He left immediately and went to Bethany.”

 

• Jesus delayed. It was not a denial, but it was surely a delay.

 

• Often for us, we can think that Jesus’ delays, when we have to wait, that it is a denial, but this story shows us differently.

 

Illus. Lifting weight.

 

• We won’t cover it this week, but when He eventually arrives, Martha will come to Jesus and essentially say, “you’re late!” She will say, “If you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died!” (vs. 21)

 

• But Jesus will say, “Your brother is going to rise!” In other words, Jesus wasn’t late, He was right on time.

 

• He was right on time according to the divine timeline.

 

• There are times when we believe God is late, or behind on something, but the reality is He is right on time.

 

2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

 

• Here Jesus waits. It would have been one day for the messenger to reach Him, He will then wait two days, and then He Himself will travel another day, so four days later He will get there. Lazarus by that time will be dead, God will get greater glory from the story.

 

Illus. Be still.

 

1. Be Sure to Stay on Call

 

John 11:7-8, Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and yet You are going there again?”

 

• Lazarus was in Bethany, near Jerusalem in Judea. Jesus had just come from there after the Pharisees had picked up stones to stone Him, but when they tried to arrest Him, Jesus eluded their grasp.

 

• Lazarus was back in the area where people wanted to stone and kill Him.

 

• He was given the message that Lazarus was sick, and He waited, that would end up being an issue as Martha wanted Jesus there right away, He then waits two days and decided to head that way, now the idea of heading there to help is an issue with His disciples.

 

• The disciples say, wait a minute, the people there want to kill you, and you are going to go there again and you want us to go there with you?

 

Illus. Yes.

 

John 11:9-11, Jesus replied, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks during the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” This He said, and after this He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may awaken him from sleep.”

 

• In ancient times, the day was understood in two 12-hour divisions 12-hours of daylight, and 12-hours of darkness.

 

• Jesus refers to walking in the light, versus the dark and tells the disciples that the daytime is when to do the work, the daytime is when to do the walking.

 

• Jesus had said similarly when He saw a man born blind in John chapter 9…

 

John 9:2-5, His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”

 

• Jesus was referring to His ministry. The hour was coming where He would die on the cross for our sins.

 

• Jesus knew He had a limited time opportunity. He knew the night was coming; He was in the world as the light of the world!

 

• This is true for me and you as well. Particularly when we are waiting.

 

• Jesus calls His followers the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16).

 

• When we are waiting, the light is still on. We still have work to do, there is still a call for us all from the Lord. A purpose for our presence here on earth.

 

Psalm 139:16, in Your book were written all the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.

 

Ephesians 5:15-16, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

 

Hebrews 12:1-2, Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

• When Jesus waits in your life, when things are happening as quickly as you would like them to, or the goals you have set have yet to come true, be sure to stay on call.

 

Illus. Leaving the call.

 

• Be Aware that He is Working

 

John 11:12-17, The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will [d]come out of it.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about actual sleep. 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus died, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let’s go to him.” 17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.

 

• As Jesus turns toward Judea, the disciples are still trying to talk Him out of it.

 

• Martha and Mary had been waiting for days, and we will see that they are troubled that they had to wait.

 

• The disciples want Jesus to avoid going there altogether and they say, “if he is asleep, he will come out of it.”

 

• No need to go Jesus, the situation will work itself out!

 

• Then Jesus tells them that Lazarus had died…And He was glad for the sake of his disciples that He was not there, why? So that they may believe.

 

• Jesus was not glad that Lazarus had died, in the next section we will actually see Jesus overcome with emotion and weep when in front of his tomb.

 

• Jesus knew, however, that their faith and trust in Him would be strengthened when Lazarus is resurrected.

 

• Jesus says, “let’s go to him!”

 

• What we see here is Jesus working while Mary and Martha are waiting. He is on the way; He is working where they cannot see.

 

• His disciples don’t want to go on the journey, but Jesus says let’s go! Let’s get there!

 

John 11:16 Therefore Thomas, who was called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s also go, so that we may die with Him!”

 

• Thomas is known throughout history as “Doubting Thomas.” He was the one in John 20 who expressed initial doubts surrounding Jesus’ resurrection until Jesus met him personally.

 

• We don’t know the tone of what Thomas said here, but many believe it shows pessimism in the path ahead…We’re done, its over!

 

• Though Thomas expresses his concerns and questions openly, he displays a willingness to follow Jesus.

 

• This is a great example for us when we don’t know the outcome of something. When we aren’t sure, or how, if, what is ahead will work out; to express honestly, but follow Jesus willingly.

 

Illus. Don’t like it.

 

• Thomas would often ask Jesus questions that others didn’t…

 

John 14:1-5, “Do not let your heart be troubled; [a]believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?”

 

• Jesus said, I am working, preparing, where I am there you will be! Thomas asked honest, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, how do we know the way?”

 

• After that question, came one of the greatest proclamations Jesus made…

 

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

• After the statement from Thomas, Jesus and the disciples work their way to Lazarus. Jesus would work a miracle in the life of Lazarus for all to see.

 

• But while Mary and Martha were waiting for Jesus to work in their situation, Jesus was also working on and in His disciples.

 

Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

Illus. Working while waiting.

 

Psalm 13

 

 

John 11:10-16 

10But if anyone walks during the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11This He said, and after this He *said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may awaken him from sleep.” 12The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will come out of it.” 13Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about actual sleep. 14So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus died, 15and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let’s go to him.” 16Therefore Thomas, who was called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s also go, so that we may die with Him!”