Understanding God's TimingSample

The story of the death of Lazarus provides us with an excellent contrast between God’s timing and ours. Let’s look at the chain of events. According to verse 1, Lazarus was ill. So, his sisters, Mary and Martha, sent for Jesus to heal him. In doing so, Mary and Martha displayed great faith in Jesus. They trusted that He would heal their brother. However, according to verse 6, Jesus did not leave for Bethany until two days later. He stayed two extra days! And then it took him at least three more days to walk there. By the time Jesus arrived at Bethany, Lazarus had already been dead for four days. Jesus’ timing was off by Mary and Martha’s standards. In this matter of life and death, Jesus had drug His feet.

When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Martha was mourning the loss of her brother. In an angry state, Martha confronted Jesus. Have you ever wished you could tell God, face to face, how you feel about something? Martha did. Verse 21 tells us that she said to Him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” She was blaming Jesus for Lazarus’ death! She told Jesus that it was His fault because His timing was off. In Martha’s mind, God’s timing was wrong. If God had only listened to her, Lazarus would still be alive. Martha did not understand why Jesus waited and allowed Lazarus to die. To her, that was incomprehensible.

In verse 4, Jesus revealed the answer to His disciples, “It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” So, was Lazarus’ death for God’s glory? In verses 43-44, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. This miracle displayed Jesus’ power over death and brought glory to Himself.

Jesus had a good reason to wait before traveling to Bethany. He waited so that He could be glorified. Had Jesus traveled to Bethany immediately, Lazarus may have been deathly ill but still alive when Jesus arrived. Healing Lazarus would have brought glory to Jesus and joy and gratitude to Mary and Martha. But raising Lazarus’ decomposing body from his sealed tomb was a whole different level. This miracle showed Jesus’ authority over death and the grave, likely leaving many of His followers overwhelmed with wonder and joy. It also set an intentional parallel to His own resurrection after three days in the tomb.

When we consider God’s timing, it's crucial to recognize that He operates according to His own reasons and schedule. We might question His timing, and even feel frustrated by it, but ultimately, He is God and we are not. The timing of His actions is entirely determined by His sovereign will, a concept that we need to grasp and accept.

Jesus, in God’s timing, displayed His love for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in bringing Lazarus back from the dead. God’s redeeming love also brings us back from the dead and into new life. As in the case of Mary and Martha, it turns our sorrow into joy. This is how God works. This is who God is. This is what He does in the lives of those who believe in Him. We were dead in our sins, but through His redeeming love, we are alive in Him. And through that, God is glorified.