A Delayed Salvation
When God is not on our Schedule
As I read Scripture on this Sunday before Palm Sunday, I was drawn to the Gospel reading. The Scriptures do not dismiss the mysteries of life, and death, of suffering and sorrow, to promote joy. The Word of God reflects life as we live it. There are bright colorful days of “Hosanna,” and monochrome contrasts of mystery. As in this Sunday and next, the scenes are frequently “paneled” next to each other. Thus, we read part of today’s Gospel lesson:
“Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was” (John 11:3-6).
It seemed obvious enough. “Jesus, your friend is ill. If you go to him, now, you can heal him.” Of course, Jesus did not have to be present to heal Lazarus. The gist of our Lord’s response: “No, let’s wait. Two days.” What?
There are times when we don’t understand God. It may be that in some of those times, we judge the situation according to the information we have. Suffering seems simple enough: “Make it stop.” Healing someone before death seems like an easy decision: “Lord, Go. Now.” Yet, Scripture pulls back the thin opaque curtain to God’s secret counsel in John 11 to show that God is in control even during suffering, and even in the event of death. The enigmatic moments in our lives do not deny God’s love or diminish His presence but draw us closer to Him with our questions. Thus, “. . . Though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus . . . He stayed two days longer.”
The enigmatic moments in our lives do not deny God’s love or diminish His presence but draw us closer to Him with our questions. —M. A. Milton
Martha was understandably upset. Jesus could heal the sick. But he would also demonstrate that He could raise the dead. Martha did not have that information at that time. Jesus called her, and He calls us, to trust Him amid times when we don’t understand. Don’t worry. Your questions do not offend Him. He knows our humanity. Just know, that beyond my questions and yours, is a God who is there, a Lord who cares, and a Savior who transforms the things that come against us to become instruments of His glory and our good.
Following God is not transactional. There is no sociopathic contract that obliges God to respond according to our limited insight. There are promises made and promises kept by a God who loves you, who cares for His creatures and His creation. To live with peace between the moment we pray and the instant He calls, “Come forth,” is a special time, a season called, “faith.” And even faith is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:9,9).