God’s Faith-building Work

Then [Jesus] told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sake, I am glad I wasn’t there, because this will give you another opportunity to believe in me. Come, let’s go see him.” John 11:14-15

Sometimes it’s a good thing you don’t get what you ask for when you ask for it. Sometimes it’s a good thing when you have to wait.

Lazarus was dead, and the people at the scene knew that had Jesus been there, he could have healed Lazarus and prevented his death. They felt defeated, and they grieved.

But Jesus was grooming his disciples for the task of reaching the world for him after he returned home to his Father. In order to do this, he had to teach them to rely on the power of God within them. Jesus knew that the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20) could not be accomplished through human means, so he needed to build memories for the disciples that would demonstrate the effectiveness of God’s power.

That is why Jesus said to them, “For your sake, I am glad I wasn’t there, because this will give you another opportunity to believe in me.”

As far as the disciples were concerned, there were no options. Lazarus was dead, and it was too late to do anything about it. But that wouldn’t do for Jesus. He knew that the power of God gave him options. The disciples did not understand this truth, and Jesus knew that simply telling them was not enough. They would have to see it in action for it to sink in.

So Jesus waited and let his friend die. But when he raised Lazarus from the dead, the power of God was transformed from theory to reality in the disciples’ minds.

The same could be true for you today. Some of God’s best work in your life requires him to make you wait, sometimes to the point where things appear hopeless. When he works that way on your behalf, you will learn that nothing is hopeless for those who know him.

God, keep anticipation alive within me as I wait on you.