God’s Weird God’s Weird Ways…Ways…

John 11:1-16John 11:1-16

God’s Weird God’s Weird Ways…Ways…

For me, the hardest problem I For me, the hardest problem I have to handle as a Christian is…have to handle as a Christian is…

What to do when God does not do What to do when God does not do what I have been taught to expect what I have been taught to expect him to dohim to do

He loves us enough to delay He loves us enough to delay answers to our prayers sometimesanswers to our prayers sometimes

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Martha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”glorified by it.”

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He place where He was. 7 Then after this He *said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea *said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples *said to Him, “Rabbi, again.” 8 The disciples *said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, stumble,

because he sees the light of this world. 10 because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 This He because the light is not in him.” 11 This He said, and after that He *said to them, “Our said, and after that He *said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” 12 The that I may awaken him out of sleep.” 12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. that He was speaking of literal sleep.

14 So Jesus then said to them 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and I plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” 16 Therefore but let us go to him.” 16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.” go, so that we may die with Him.”

John 11:1-16John 11:1-16

God’s Weird God’s Weird Ways…Ways…

Ever Get frustrated with God?Ever Get frustrated with God? Ever wonder “Why in the world…?”Ever wonder “Why in the world…?” Today I want to talk about the most Today I want to talk about the most

difficult thing in Christian lifedifficult thing in Christian life If I polled you, that “thing” might If I polled you, that “thing” might

be many different “ones”, but I be many different “ones”, but I think the passage today will think the passage today will illuminate you on the subjectilluminate you on the subject

4 Characters 4 Characters today…today…

The Critical Patient The Critical Patient The Concerned SistersThe Concerned Sisters The Cringing DisciplesThe Cringing Disciples The Confident SaviourThe Confident Saviour

There is a great lesson for us There is a great lesson for us here today…here today…

1.The Critical 1.The Critical PatientPatient

Vv 1-2, Lazarus, from the Hebrew Vv 1-2, Lazarus, from the Hebrew “Eleazar– One whom God helps”“Eleazar– One whom God helps”

Not the same Lazarus mentioned Not the same Lazarus mentioned in Luke 16 as a beggarin Luke 16 as a beggar

His import is that He is dying, not His import is that He is dying, not which particular ‘Lazarus’ is which particular ‘Lazarus’ is described, btwdescribed, btw

1.The Critical 1.The Critical PatientPatient

Vv 3-4, Jesus uses the word Vv 3-4, Jesus uses the word ‘phileo’ describing His love for ‘phileo’ describing His love for LazarusLazarus

He said, “This sickness will not He said, “This sickness will not end in death…” remember thatend in death…” remember that

In V 5, however, Jesus ‘agapao’ In V 5, however, Jesus ‘agapao’ the three of themthe three of them

? I’ll get there in a minute? I’ll get there in a minute

2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters Vv 3-6, Lazarus was sick enough that Vv 3-6, Lazarus was sick enough that

they sought out Jesus immediatelythey sought out Jesus immediately They were confident in His love for They were confident in His love for

Lazarus and his record of healingsLazarus and his record of healings They also asked in complete humility, They also asked in complete humility,

without demand, and in surrender to without demand, and in surrender to His love—What do I mean by that?His love—What do I mean by that?

2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters Now to “agapao” in v5. Some will ask,Now to “agapao” in v5. Some will ask, ““What kind of messed-up love allows What kind of messed-up love allows

Lazarus to die?!?”Lazarus to die?!?” We’ve already refuted the “weak-We’ve already refuted the “weak-

faith-or-sin-in-their-lives-argumentfaith-or-sin-in-their-lives-argument Also, I must once again nail down the Also, I must once again nail down the

heresy of the Word of Faith heresy of the Word of Faith movement…movement…

Understand what they did Understand what they did not…not…

Listen to me carefully, please. God’s love for the Listen to me carefully, please. God’s love for the believer is not a pampering love, but a perfecting believer is not a pampering love, but a perfecting love through trials. love through trials.

His love for us/ours for Him is no guarantee that we His love for us/ours for Him is no guarantee that we will be sheltered from problems and pains of life. will be sheltered from problems and pains of life.

Remember, Father God loves His Son perfectly, yet Remember, Father God loves His Son perfectly, yet allowed Him to experience the shame of the cross. allowed Him to experience the shame of the cross.

We must never, think that love and suffering are We must never, think that love and suffering are incompatible. Together shape us, mold us, and incompatible. Together shape us, mold us, and transform us into the image of Christ.transform us into the image of Christ.

2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters When we find ourselves encountered When we find ourselves encountered

by disease, disappointment, delay, by disease, disappointment, delay, and even death, our only hope and and even death, our only hope and encouragement is the Word of Godencouragement is the Word of God

We must live by faith, not by sight.We must live by faith, not by sight. Psalm 50:15 “Call upon Me in the Psalm 50:15 “Call upon Me in the

day of trouble; I will deliver you, and day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”you shall glorify Me.”

According to John 1:28 and 10:40, Jesus According to John 1:28 and 10:40, Jesus was at Bethabara, about 20 miles from was at Bethabara, about 20 miles from Bethany, a hard day’s journeyBethany, a hard day’s journey

Jesus sent him back with an encouraging Jesus sent him back with an encouraging message in v4message in v4

But then he did the WEIRD thingBut then he did the WEIRD thing He waited 2 more days before leaving– He waited 2 more days before leaving–

by the time they arrived, Laz dead 4 daysby the time they arrived, Laz dead 4 days

2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters

2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters Let’s clear any confusionLet’s clear any confusion Was Jesus waiting for Lazarus to die?Was Jesus waiting for Lazarus to die? No– Lazarus was dead by the time the No– Lazarus was dead by the time the

messenger arrivedmessenger arrived Then, why did Jesus delay two more Then, why did Jesus delay two more

days?days? Jesus was on the Divine TimetableJesus was on the Divine Timetable He was waiting for 2 reasons, I thinkHe was waiting for 2 reasons, I think

2. The Concerned Sisters2. The Concerned Sisters 1) Greater authenticity to the miracle1) Greater authenticity to the miracle The fact that the man had been dead four The fact that the man had been dead four

days gave greater authenticity to the miracle days gave greater authenticity to the miracle and greater opportunity for people to and greater opportunity for people to believe, including His own disciples.believe, including His own disciples.

2) Overcoming the Jewish folk tale2) Overcoming the Jewish folk tale According to an old Jewish folk take, the According to an old Jewish folk take, the

spirit of a dead person hovers over one’sspirit of a dead person hovers over one’s dead body for three days for an dead body for three days for an

opportunity to return to itopportunity to return to it

3. The Cringing Disciples3. The Cringing Disciples Vv 7-14, the ministry at Bethabara was Vv 7-14, the ministry at Bethabara was

going well, many were believinggoing well, many were believing They didn’t know how soon, but they knew They didn’t know how soon, but they knew

there was a price on Jesus’ headthere was a price on Jesus’ head They weren’t keen on returning to Bethany They weren’t keen on returning to Bethany

because it was so close to Jerusalembecause it was so close to Jerusalem Vv 9-10– nothing will extend or shorten Vv 9-10– nothing will extend or shorten

God’s planned timing for your life’s ministry God’s planned timing for your life’s ministry

4. The Confident Saviour4. The Confident Saviour Vv 15-16, Jesus was not glad Lazarus had Vv 15-16, Jesus was not glad Lazarus had

dieddied He was glad this situation would build His He was glad this situation would build His

disciples’ faith– power over deathdisciples’ faith– power over death Lots of jokes about Doubting ThomasLots of jokes about Doubting Thomas His faith was weak but his love for Jesus His faith was weak but his love for Jesus

was beyond all elsewas beyond all else Would you die for Jesus? Thomas Would you die for Jesus? Thomas

eventually did, as a martyreventually did, as a martyr

The Take-Home…The Take-Home… True trust in God gets stronger when He is True trust in God gets stronger when He is

silentsilent God’s answer to prayer is always far greater God’s answer to prayer is always far greater

than what we expect. Don’t box Him up!than what we expect. Don’t box Him up! Our lives are granted and scheduled by God Our lives are granted and scheduled by God

to live for His glory. Don’t waste life in to live for His glory. Don’t waste life in selfishness-- you’ve been bought!selfishness-- you’ve been bought!

Don’t just say that you are willing to die for Don’t just say that you are willing to die for Christ, be willing to live for Christ first.Christ, be willing to live for Christ first.