The Mysteries of His Love and the Testing of our Faith
Philadelphia Baptist Church
7/8/2007 Sun. p.m.
The Mysteries of His Love
& the Testing of Our Faith
John 11:1–27
verse 4…“ This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”
Introduction: During our trials, we all have asked, “If God loves me so much, why would this be happening?” The story that follows taught Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, the disciples of Jesus, and can teach us all today this invaluable lesson: many things that seem mysterious to us are ordained by love for God’s glory and our good.
1. Sometimes It Seems the Love of Christ Makes Little Difference (11:3–6). Verse 3 introduces a difficult concept to understand: the relationship between the love of Christ and the suffering of His loved ones.
A. If Jesus Loved Lazarus, Why Was He Sick (vv. 3–4)? John, in his Gospel, went way out of his way to stress the special relationship that Jesus had with this family. Staying with this family in Bethany was not just a matter of convenience but of companionship. As John wrote, Jesus loved them. It is the fact of this special love for them that explains the unique way the sisters worded their message to Jesus: “Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.” (John 11:3). Jesus answers in verse four, that it will ultimately be for His glory.
B. Why Did Jesus Tarry (vv. 5–6)? Why does He make them wait? Later on verse 17 tells us that when Jesus finally walked into the village Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. It probably took the messenger one day to reach Jesus, after which Jesus waited two more days before leaving; it would have then taken Him one full day to get to the village of Bethany. That also means Lazarus must have died soon after the messenger left. It must have seemed like four long days! We will see that Jesus didn’t want to heal a sick man, but raise a dead man!
…many things that seem mysterious to us are ordained by love for God’s glory and our good.
2. Sometimes It Seems the Word of Christ Isn’t True (v. 4). Jesus says something very perplexing when the messenger told Jesus of Lazarus, “When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” (v. 4).
I imagine that to the sisters and anyone else who heard what Jesus said it may have seemed as if His words had not been true. Lazarus had died after all. We learn that the relationship between God’s promise and providence can be puzzling. Sometimes we need to trust to take us where understanding cannot go. We often have to say: “Lord I do not understand but I trust in You.”
3. Sometimes It Seems the Way of Christ Doesn’t Make Sense (vv. 5–16).
Jesus, after waiting for two days, told the disciples they would return to Judea. To the disciples it seemed incredibly foolish to return there where the Jews sought to stone Him.
…many things that seem mysterious to us are ordained by love for God’s glory and our good.
4. In the Midst of Mysteries, We Must Trust in Jesus Christ (vv. 17–44). We also know that in every way Christ proves worthy of all our trust.
A. The Love of Christ Makes All the Difference. Christ delayed coming to Bethany for two days, not in spite of His love but because of His love. Because of His great love for His friends He submitted to His Father’s timetable. Waiting is allowed for the same reason that the test was sent. The delays of Christ are the delays of love; the help of Christ always comes at the right time. In the end, Christ’s love makes all the difference in the world.
B. The Word of Christ Proves Itself Completely True. In the end the death of Lazarus, the delay of Jesus in returning, the danger that Jesus and the disciples faced in returning to Judea, all served a higher purpose in the plan of God. The waiting made the miracle more wonderful! This whole incident was preparing the disciples for what they were about to experience with the resurrected Jesus!
C. The Way of Christ Proves to Be Absolutely Right. One thing that is clear in the Bible is that the love of God and of Christ is not synonymous with safety as we often think of it. God’s love is real and reliable but is not tame and predictable. God knows what we are made for and in love He calls us into a drama that is not only good but glorious for us and for Him.
Conclusion:
Trust Jesus Christ, for His love will rescue you at just the right time, even if not in this lifetime. Remember that through His love, through His own resurrection, if you have committed your life to Him, He has rescued you eternally.
2 Samuel 22:2-4 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. 4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
