I just finished re-reading the story of the resurrection of Lazarus. He was one of Jesus' best friends. When he got sick, his family sent a message to Jesus, in hopes that He would come and heal his friend, as he had done for so many others. Jesus did not come. In fact, he stayed away on purpose, until his friend had been dead for days. Then he showed up. Lazarus' sisters could not understand why He had waited so long. I am sure that they wondered if He really was the friend that they thought He was. After all, he healed total strangers. Why wouldn't He heal his closest friend? They couldn't make sense of it.
I have read this story so many times. I always understood it from the perspective that Jesus knew what was going to happen, and He used the events as an object lesson to show everyone that He had power even over death. He had raised the dead before, but always so soon after that people gave accusation that the deceased weren't truly dead. This time, there could be no doubt. And because of this miracle, many people believed.
Now, however, I read this story with a new thought. I pondered the perceptions of Lazarus' family. How I relate to them! So often, I expect God to answer the longings in my heart and the questions in my mind, and I don't get the answer I expect. Mary and Martha expected that Jesus would come immediately and heal their brother. The idea that Lazarus would have to die before Jesus would restore him could never have entered their mind. Jesus still came through for them. He was always there. He knew what would happen, and he had a plan all along. For me, that means a lot. When I see things happen in my life that I can't explain, and I cannot see God's plan, and I don't hear his guidance, and I can't see his leading, I may be quick to assume that He isn't there or that He is not going to help. But this story gives me the assurance that even though my circumstances look like they are getting worse, when the dark cloud in my soul seems to close in like death, that God is still there, and that He is planning what is good and right, even though I cannot see beyond the cloud.
