John 11 is the story about a calamity… A tragedy, filled with hopelessness, “if only’s”, doubt, blame and despair…
Lazarus died.
When Jesus finally arrived, both Mary and Martha’s first words to Jesus was “if only” – If only you were here, if only you reacted like we wanted you to, our lives would be different. If only you did what we asked, what we begged for. This would terrible thing would not have happened.
We assume to know God’s plans. In Jeremiah 29, God declares that it is plans to let us prosper, and plans to give us hope, and plans for a future… but we forget what had to happen before: the 70 years in Babylon. I like to read all the “good” passages, about peace, about health, about prosperity. And I definitely am all out for claiming those…
I want all the _good stuff_ but forget that to see and experience a miracle, I need to be in an impossible situation, I need to be where nothing and no-one can save us, where nothing in my limited field of vision can come to my aid. Where I am literally without hope. Where I cannot see, nor even imagine how on earth can God get me out of this mess. Then I can experience a miracle! Then I have a testimony! Then I have, just like the mourners and the friends of Lazarus, a story to tell.
The other side of a miracle is that it requires something from us. It requires that we do not lose Faith, it requires Belief:
“…Jesus looked at her and said, “Didn’t I tell you that if you will believe in me, you will see God unveil his power?”
The interesting thing is that so many times, God still does the miracles, regardless of our level of faith. We don’t know if Lazarus had faith to be resurrected, because he never had a speaking role in this story… and also… he was, well… dead.
After the Holy Spirit was poured out, Peter and John walked up to a cripple sitting outside the temple gates, expecting money or food, he received healing instead.
Not every miracle requires our faith, but once it occurs, it definitely requires activity. Lazarus was raised from the dead, but others had to unwrap him, and get him back on his feet. The man that was healed by Peter and John, he had to work with what God now provided for him.
So that leaves me with just one question:
Why did Jesus cry?
I do not think (and this is just me) that Jesus cried because his friend died. And I do not think He cried because the sisters were in anguish.
I think Jesus wept, because the people around Him lost hope. He had tears running down His face because they were focussed on death, not on life. Even though The Miracle Maker was there, right in front of them. Even though He just told Martha to hang on. They still lost all hope. They knew who He was, they knew what he could do, they knew what He has already done. But still… they gave up.
Don’t be like them. Do not focus on death. Do not lose Hope. Do not focus on everything that went wrong already. Do not focus on a future of “what if’s” and “if only’s” but focus on God. Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ and listen to the Holy Spirit.
Because today is the day you may experience a miracle… but more importantly, today you might be the miracle for someone else. And because of your Faith, and your obedience to the Holy Spirit… many will believe in Him
