Message Recap: Delayed-Part 1

We all struggle with God's timing, asking "God, when are you going to do something about this?"
--This struggle can take us down a path of disillusionment, doubt, and despair
--It also can lead to a deeper and richer faith.

The pattern in Scripture from Genesis to Revelation says that delays more fully display Jesus.
--Can we find this pattern in our own delays?

John 11:1-44

• Jesus' intentional delay in responding to Lazarus' sickness is challenging:
  
  
  
  • The Scripture says that because Jesus loved this family, He delayed in going to help them
  
  
  • The Scripture says that Jesus will use this sickness for His glory
    
    
    
    • We define "glory" as God's weightiness, His fullness
    
    
    • Is God's glory more important than our immediate comfort and well-being? Apparently so.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Jesus tells His disciples that He is glad Lazarus died so He can help their belief in Him.
  
  
  
  


• Delays remind us that we are not in control.
  
  
  
  • Does not mean that no one is in control; just that we aren't.
    
    
    
    • The passage clearly reveals that Jesus is in control
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • This is where lots of us leave the faith or settle for God "from a distance".
  
  
  • This also creates an opening for greater faith and connection to God because once we lose the illusion of control, we are open to the One Who actually is in control.
  
  
  
  


• Jesus meets Martha first.
  
  
  
  • Martha was looking forward to a favorable event or circumstance
  
  
  • Jesus taught her to look for Him as the "I am"
  
  
  • Who God is is bigger than when God is.
  
  
  
  


• Jesus then meets Mary and comforts her with deep emotion: tears of sorrow and anger at sin & unbelief.


• Some in the crowd understand, some do not.
  
  
  
  • If we insist on being loved the way the world does, we will miss God.
    
    
    
    • The world spells love "O-W-E" and places expectations on people, government, etc.
    
    
    • God spells love "M-Y S-O-N" and gives us Himself.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Delays help us meet God personally, and not just circumstantially.
  
  
  
  • When you can't find God in favorable circumstances, you must look for Him in His Word and at His Cross which we see visibly through the Lord's Supper.
  
  
  
  


• Delays force the issue of faith forcing us to lean on what we cannot see and trust the One we cannot comprehend.
  
  
  
  • Jesus raises Lazarus so that the people may believe in Him.
  
  
  • Lazarus' resurrection was not the point, just the platform.
  
  
  • Jesus was/is/always will be the point.
  
  
  
  


• Does this answer satisfy us? It depends on how we see Jesus?
  
  
  
  • If He is the source of life, we are satisfied and have peace that passes understanding.
  
  
  • If He is a threat to our way of life, we run or doubt or despair.
    
    
    
    • The Lazarus miracle was the catalyst for the diabolical plot to kill Jesus (see John 11:53).
    
    
    • Jesus as God is threatening to some.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 3 Choices:
  
  
  
  • Receive salvation
  
  
  • Lean into God's sovereignty
  
  
  • Live for God's glory