John 11:5-6

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.

John 11:5-6

Having heard about his friend, Lazarus, and the illness that was threatening to take his life, Jesus chose to stay “two more days in the place where He was.” He wouldn’t return to Bethany, where Lazarus was, until four days after his friend had died. I’m sure Mary and Martha thought that Jesus had let them down by not coming right away, but it was His love for them that kept Him away. This sickness had a purpose: to glorify the Lord and to magnify Him so that they and we might see every detail of who God is.

When I was a kid, I loved magnifying glasses. They were great for burning ants and dried leaves. But even better than that, they allowed you to see things you could never see with the naked eye. You would discover the smallest detail of bugs, plants, and other things.

God wants us to see and experience every detail of who He is, the mysteries of the kingdom of God, His exceeding grace, tender mercy, and abounding love. So, because of love, Jesus waited two days to go, and as a result, the glory and power of the Lord were displayed as He called Lazarus from the grave. It was well worth the wait.

Pastor Doug Hardin