Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

December 29
Monday


DELAY MAY
NOT MEAN
DENIAL

READ:
John 11:21-35
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When [Jesus] heard
that [Lazarus] was sick,
He stayed two more
days in the place where
He was. __John 11:6
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My sons' birthdays are in December. When they were small, Angus quickly learned that if he didn't receive a longed-for toy for his birthday at the beginning of the month, it might be in his Christmas stocking. And if David didn't receive his gift for Christmas, it might appear for his birthday 4 days later. Delay didn't necessarily mean denial.

It was natural for Martha and Mary to send for Jesus when Lazarus became seriously ill (John 11:1-3). Perhaps they looked anxiously along the road for signs of His arrival, but Jesus didn't come. The funeral service had been over for 4 days when Jesus finally walked into town (v.17).

Martha was blunt. "If You had been here," she said, "my brother would not have died" (v.21). Then her faith flickered into certainty. "Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You" (v.22). I wonder what she expected. Lazarus was dead, and she was wary about opening the tomb. And yet at a word from Jesus, Lazarus' spirit returned to his decaying body (vv.41-44). Jesus had bypassed simply healing His sick friend, in order to perform the far greater miracle of bringing him back to life.

Waiting for God's timing may also give us a greater miracle than we had hoped for. __Marion Stroud

```````````````````My savior hears me when I pray,`````````````````
````````````````````Upon His Word I calmly rest;```````````````````
`````````````````In His own time, in His own way,``````````````````
```````````I know He'll give me what is best. __Hewitt``````````````
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Time spent waiting on Go is never wasted.

****************************Today's Bible Reading __ John 11:21-35***************************

21 Now Martha said to
Jesus, "Lord if You had been
here, my brother would not
have died. 22 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?"

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."...

30 Now Jesus had not yet
come into the town, but was
in the place where Martha
met Him. 31 Then the Jews
who were with her in the
house, and comforting her,
when they saw that Mary
rose up quickly and went out,
followed her, saying, "She is
going to the tomb to weep
there."

32 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."

33 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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Martha, often maligned for her attitude in Luke 10:38-42, displays
great faith in today's passage. Not only does she believe that Jesus
has a special relationship with the Father (John 11:22), she also
affirms her confidence that Jesus is, in fact, the Son of God (v.27).