IF YOU BELIEVE, YOU WILL SEE GOD’S GLORY

SCRIPTURE:

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.  “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.  35 Jesus wept.  36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”  37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.  “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”  40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”  43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:33—44)

OBSERVATION:

            This is one of the most emotional passage of scriptures I have come across.  Lazarus died.  His sisters and mourners and the whole town grieved.  This was the same town that a sought to kill Jesus earlier.  Jesus disciples did not want to go back to this town.  Jesus got words that his friend Lazarus had died.  Lazarus sisters send a note.  They seem to believe that Jesus was more than just a mere human.  Jesus delayed going right away when he heard the news.  Now Lazarus has been in the grave for four days and Jesus just showed up. 

            Jesus saw Martha weeping, and the Jews who came along to mourn were weeping also.  That MOVED Jesus.  Jesus was led to the grave where Lazarus has been buried for four days already.  There Jesus WEPT.  There could be many reasons why Jesus wept.  First, he saw the crowd weeping, and Martha weeping.  Jesus is our high priest who can empathize with what we go through.  He is touched and he feels the pain of every situation that touches our lives.  Secondly, Jesus sees our troubles and always moved to connect with what we are going through.  Jesus is NOT a callous person.  He feels our pain, and especially the pain of death.

            Jesus moved deeply when he saw the living wept, but he was moved MORE deeply when he stood before Lazarus grave.  Jesus hates death.  Because his mission is to give ETERNAL LIFE, not death.  So here, Jesus’ face death of a friend and will not have death gets the upper hand.  But one of the reason I believed Jesus wept, was the UNBELIEF of his friends to trust in who he was and what he is able to do.  When Jesus said to, “TAKE AWAY THE STONE” Martha jumped up and said; “BUT LORD.”

            Jesus is unable to do anything in our lives when we have unbelief.  Jesus had assured Martha that he is the resurrection and the life, but that didn’t registered with Martha.  She said; BUT LORD, it’s been four days, and by now he stinks.  Jesus’ response to Martha serves as a reminder for me, that God only works in the atmosphere of faith.  Jesus said in a strong term;  “DID I NOT TELL YOU THAT IF YOU BELIEVE, YOU WILL SEE THE GLORY OF GOD?”

            Jesus wept often because of the UNBELIEF of so many who confess to follow him, but do not believe and trust him.  We can follow, and we can call ourselves Christian, but what Jesus looks for is whether I believe and honor his word.  Jesus can’t work with our, “BUT LORD” attitude.  So, Jesus prayed and ask his Father saying; I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, BUT I said this for the BENEFIT of the people standing here, that THEY MAY BELIEVE that you sent me. 

            None of us can see the great things Jesus wants to do when we treated his word lightly and ignorantly.  What stops us from seeing the glory of the Lord is our “BUT LORD” unbelief statement in our minds and hearts.  To Jesus his word is he Himself.  And when I do not believe his word, he doesn’t take that lightly.  Many believers are still living in unbelief; thus we do not see the breakthrough that we want to see in our journey with Jesus. 

APPLICATION:

            I know I am guilty of this “BUT LORD” syndrome as well.  I want to trust God’s word daily so I may see his glory.  I do not want to have Christ wept over me because of my unbelief.  Jesus knows what I need, and he is also able to feel my pain and see my grave situations, but I must be trust his word at all times.  Nothing is impossible with God no matter how gravely difficult it is.  He is able to do far more and beyond what I hope for and dream of or even plan for.

PRAYER:

            Jesus, I am grateful for this reminder from your word today.  Thank you that there is nothing too difficult for you.  Help me to believe your word at all times.  Teach me how to believe so I may see your glory work in my life.  Thank you for being patient with my unbelief.  Help my unbelief Jesus, so I may see the power of your glory.  I look to you and know that there is nothing difficult to you, not even the grave.  You are the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.  I trust your word. Amen!