Friday, June 7, 2013 -- Responding Well In Relationship

Jesus had many friends.  Three of his dearest friends were Mary, Martha, and Lazarus who lived in a small town outside Jerusalem called Bethany.  One day, while Jesus was teaching, he received word that Lazarus was sick.  The message from the sisters to Jesus was:   “Lord, the one you love is sick.” (John 11:2 NIV)  These friends of Jesus had seen him heal many people he didn't even know.  Surely His heart would respond with compassion for this dear friend.  Imagine the following response of Jesus in this situation:

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”  After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”   His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.”  Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.  So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”  (John 11:4-7, 11-15 NIV) 

At first glance, it looks like Jesus is talking the talk but not walking the walk.  He says He loves Mary,
Martha, and Lazarus, but He's not bothered to get there in time to do something before Lazarus dies.  He knew Lazarus was going to die and He just let it happen.  Where's the loving care in all that inaction?  Is Jesus out of touch with real life? Can He really do anything about the ordinary things that go on in life?

Sometimes we feel that way as well.  We have troubles in our lives that seem to get worse rather than better even after we pray about them.  People get sick and die.  Jobs are difficult to find and there's not enough money for what we need.  Housing is not available for us and we end up in a shelter.  A problem situation that should have a solution just grows more difficult and complicated and there appears to be no way forward.

Just as Jesus knew what was happening in the life of His friends, so He is fully aware of what we are going through.  Sometimes Jesus has a plan for our circumstances that is much better than what we think we need or could possibly imagine.  Jesus sees the bigger picture and He's committed to helping us grow into a relationship that is faithful and trust worthy.  Our relationship with Jesus requires that we look beyond the momentary need and trust His heart to provide the answer in a way, and at a time, that is most beneficial to us, and brings glory to our Father in Heaven.

As much as Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, He didn't act first on the basis of their relationship with Him.  He acted first with the loving care and plan of God in heaven.  In the end, the results were amazing ... Lazarus was raised from the dead and everyone came to realize even more clearly that Jesus really was God and that we can depend on Him for both life now, and life beyond the grave.  Our relationship with Jesus is a pattern of how we can respond with others in our earthly relationships.  Jesus shows us the way.  In fact Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NKJV)  The Father in turn says of the Son, “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.” (Mark 17:5 MSG) If we want to establish healthy relationships we need to obey what God the Father said.