The Living Red Letter Words of Jesus

Please, notice what is taking place is taking place in our scripture today. About 2 miles outside of Jerusalem lay the sleepy little town of Bethany. Where Jesus often found rest and relaxation. In the home of Lazarus and his 2 sisters Martha and Mary. It is not peaceful on this day. John 11:1-2 tells us that Lazarus is deathly ill. In desperation, the sisters send for Jesus. John 11:3 (NKJV) “Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.’" We know according to John 11:5 that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. In considering this, you would think Jesus would drop everything and come running to Lazarus's bedside. That's what you expect, right? Yet, Jesus delays for 2 days. Was He too busy? Was He attending to other matters of greater importance? NO. He delayed for two reasons; 1. v4, "for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it." 2. v. 15, "so that you may believe." In times of crisis, it is essential that we understand some important facts about Time and perspective. Regarding Time; Our Lord is never late, He often delays His responses, but He is never late. His watch is merely set to a different timetable. It is calibrated to matters of eternal consequence rather than temporal. Regarding our perspective; We can adapt to a human or a divine outlook. Human perspective; Focuses on the urgent and blurs the important. It concentrates on our immediate welfare rather than the ultimate welfare. We look to our temporary good instead of God's eternal glory. Divine perspective; Adds eternity in to the great equations of life. Human pleads, "My will be done now!" Divine makes a request then patiently adds, "But not my will but thine be done." How is your vision and sense of divine timing during trials? Do you see only the crisis, or do you see Christ's hand behind, before, below, above, and within those crises? Have you checked your spiritual watch lately? Is it synchronized with eternity? Is it keeping His time - or your own? By the Time Jesus finally arrives, Lazarus has died and has been dead for 4 days. NOTICE THEIR REACTION TO HIS LATE ARRIVAL. John 11:20 (NKJV) “Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’” Mary's and Martha reactions had some similarities; John 11:32 (NKJV) “Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’" Even though their words seem to be the same, their posture is not. Martha runs to Him Erect; Mary falls at His feet prostrate. Martha is Angry, Hurt, Confused and Crushed. Which leads her to engages Jesus in a theological debate. John 11:22 (NKJV) "‘But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.’ 23 Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ 24 Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’ 25 Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” With this question placed before her, Martha softens, while grasping the truth presented. John 11:27, “She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.’" Martha needed to talk this matter out. Ask the questions she was pondering on. While Mary needs emotional support, and would not even come to Him till He called to her. She also was ANGRY, HURT, CONFUSED AND CRUSHED. Why, did you let this happen? John 11:33 (NKJV) “Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, ‘See how He loved him!’" Did you notice the difference? Martha needed to know Jesus was in control, while Mary needed to know that Jesus cared, and without rebukes or reservations, He met each sister where she was; either standing or fallen, either in need of intellectual or emotional support.