Scripture Reading: John 11:1-45
I am a planner, goal and detail-oriented. My plans are mapped out in my mind, written into lists, spoken in directions to others. Whenever a new, unexpected situation arises in my life, I try to wrap my mind around it by forming a plan: What am I dealing with? How will I respond? Whose help do I need? Which tools or resources would be most useful? It doesn't take long before I have a desired outcome in mind and a plan for how to achieve it. These planning skills are quite handy when needed. However, the reality of how God's plan doesn't always align with my own becomes obvious to me when I read passages like this one from the gospel of John. As I read about the story of Lazarus' illness and death, I consider another important planning question: When will I take action? I try to anticipate Jesus' response at every turn of the plot. I think of what my responses would be and how I would handle the next steps. In every instance, though, I am surprised by what Jesus does (or does not do). When he first hears of Lazarus' illness, surely he will show some concern or a hint of grief, right? No! In fact, when he heard the news, "Jesus said, This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.'” (John 11:4) Jesus is confident that this is not a time for sorrow, but instead a time when God will be glorified. Well! I didn't see that coming! Surely he will at least want to rush to Lazarus' side to be with him and comfort him during the illness? I imagine times when I have heard of a friend struggling with health issues and gone out to send a card or bring them a meal, or called to chat with them and take their mind off things. That must be what Jesus will do next: go straight to Lazarus to bring him comfort. But no--then Jesus decides to wait two more days before making the journey back to Judea. This seems strange indeed! However, this is a time when, as Jesus told his disciples earlier, he will be glorified as God's Son. This gets to the heart of the matter in a way all my previous planning questions do not. Rather than focusing on what he will do, which tools he will use, how he will act, or even when, Jesus is focused on WHY. Why is this happening to Lazarus? So that God will be glorified. That is the outcome, not death, as Jesus has already shared. All of the other aspects of Jesus' response to the situation are tailored to this one objective of glorifying God. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9) My first thought when I hear of Lazarus and his sisters is to immediately rush to them and try to fix the situation. Thinking of times I have talked with friends in poor health, I would probably try to find out what remedies they had tried, if they had consulted a doctor, and what the real prognosis was in case I could see an alternative solution. If there was none, I would try to console them and grieve with them. I certainly would not choose the path that Jesus did of waiting and focusing on glorifying God. And therein lies my problem! As I reflect on the story of Lazarus and compare my response to Jesus' response, I realize that my efforts at planning in the face of a difficult situation are concerned with doing good and helping others. However, they are also motivated by my desire to take control and be in charge of the circumstances. I am typically focused on what I can do, how I can help, what I know that might be useful to someone. As I said before, my skills and ideas can be helpful, but this scripture is an important reminder that I need to keep God at the forefront of my plans and efforts, especially those intended to help others. Does my plan of action reflect God's influence? Have I prayerfully considered how I will act? Have I allowed for the possibility to not act to leave room for others to help, or for things to happen in God's timing rather than mine? Ultimately, are my plans motivated by a desire to glorify God and serve Him through caring for others? Or am I trying to bring glory to myself and what I can do? At the end of this story about Lazarus, Jesus meets with Lazarus' sister Martha: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?' 'Yes, Lord,' she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.'” (John 11:25-27) Her sister Mary then also professes her faith by declaring to Jesus that his presence would have prevented Lazarus' death. After these expressions of faith, Jesus goes to Lazarus' tomb, accompanied by Lazarus' grieving sisters and others who were mourning. Jesus grieves with them. And then he finally takes action, telling them to roll away the stone from the tomb. As they are doing this, Jesus gives glory to God: "...Then Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.'” (John 11:41-42) Even as the Son of God, Jesus wants to be sure those around him recognize the involvement of God the Father in the miracle they are about to witness. Then finally Jesus calls to Lazarus to come out, and "the dead man came out," alive once more through the intervention of Christ, to the glory of God. This ending far surpasses any that I could have planned or even imagined. It makes me wonder how often in our life God is waiting to work miracles of all shapes and sizes, if we would just make room for Him in all our planning and concern ourselves with glorifying Him in all that we do. As Jesus explained to Martha when he first visited her and her sister Mary, “'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one...'" (Luke 10:41-42) The next time I am confronted with an unexpected situation, surprising circumstances, or an opportunity to act based on my own powers and ideas of what should be done, I am going to think of the story of Lazarus and remember that God's plan is often not the same as mine. Rather than forging ahead in my own way, for my own glory and satisfaction, I want to be more like Jesus who decided how to respond based on what would glorify God. If we trust that God cares for His creation, including us, then He will not fail to take care of us in our times of need, even if it is by a means or a timetable that we would not at first choose on our own. By focusing first on God, we will be able to see a way forward that not only addresses the earthly needs that are present, but does so in a way that addresses spiritual needs as well and gives glory to God instead of ourselves. So before we rush to plan, to act, to speak, to fix...let us seek God's guidance to show us the way. To God be the glory, now and forever! How do you first respond to new or challenging situations? How do you balance listening for God's direction and taking action? What are some times when you have sensed God's plan differing from your own? What did that look like and how did it turn out? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to share them in the comments here or on the Contact page.
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AuthorRachel is a wife, mom, and follower of Christ. She is active in lay leadership in the United Methodist Church. Archives
October 2017
Categories© Rachel Yochum and Bible Bridge Ministry, 2017. All rights reserved.
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