I Am Glad For Your Sake! [John 11:11-22]

This is what Jesus said when talking with the disciples about the death of Lazarus, his friend. He was glad he wasn’t there.         John 11:11-22

What an interesting statement that he was glad he wasn’t there for their sake. Of course Jesus knew he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead right. Ok but it would have been easier to heal him before he died. Yes it would have. But now it is going to bring more glory to the Father and also prove something else. The truth that Jesus has power over death which is the last enemy. Ok so that is awesome because our God doesn’t mess around. He is glorious and does impossible things.

He proves and shows us through all that Jesus did how great our God really is. He raises our faith as we see what He actually can do in lives. Now let’s consider this a little further. I heard this statement made by a speaker from Brazil, Ed Rocha, that really sparked my thinking about this story. What he said basically was this: Jesus wasn’t there when Lazarus died but God was since God is omnipresent! And Jesus said it was good that he, Jesus, was not there when he died!!

What an awesome earth shattering idea. Just follow me for a minute here on this thought. God is everywhere but the dead aren’t being raised and sick aren’t being healed everywhere. God was there but Jesus wasn’t! And Lazarus wasn’t going to be healed or raised from the dead unless Jesus showed up. Now that is a lot to think about. Isn’t it?

So could it be that Jesus was teaching (as he did with everything that he did) the disciples about the authority that Jesus had from heaven which is the same authority that is on all believers? This was an example or pattern for us to follow as well. Jesus was showing the disciples that God chooses to work through His children if we will just have faith and stand in the authority He has given us. This means the dead can be raised today if Jesus shows up!!?? And doesn’t He abide and live in us today?? Maybe we need to begin to understand just who we are walking around on the earth. Sons and daughters of God invested with authority from heaven to destroy the works of the enemy!!

Ok now that is quite a lot to think about. I will tell you that I have a brand new appreciation for this story in John 11. I am seeing more than every before why Jesus said it was good that he wasn’t there. Think about all the people around us and even around the world for that matter who are in need of someone that carries Jesus to come into their presence and bring good news of life to their broken condition. You are Jesus to people. Of course you are not God. Don’t get caught up in that game of semantics. Jesus lives in us and he uses us to lay hands on the sick, to preach the good news, to set prisoners free, etc. He has commissioned us to carry on the work(s) that He did on earth until He returns. Let’s get busy!!

Honor’s Reward

There is a phrase in Romans 13:7 that states simply  pay taxes, respect and honor to where it is due. Of course it is not a popular verse  heard very often. But there is a lot of truth in this verse that we would do well to incorporate in our lives. I want to focus only on the latter part: “honor to whom honor is due”. There is so much truth in understanding honor. To honor is to recognize and esteem. To lift above yourself.

Think about honor for a second. In the ten commandments it is the one commandment that includes a reward! Long life and good life are the reward of honoring our parents. Hmm. Could it be that there is a reward across the board when we practice honor? I believe scripture bears out this truth.

Jesus said if we receive a prophet because he is a prophet then he receives a prophets reward. Ever think about the reward? What kind of reward would come from recognizing and honoring a prophet? How about a word from God through the mouth of the prophet? A word in season for your life? I believe that and more will be the reward. And it is not only limited to recognizing a prophet. Jesus mentions a righteous man as well and receiving the reward of a righteous man. Think about how a righteous man is treated by the Lord! We could receive the benefits and rewards that a righteous man can bring. Here is one: a righteous man prays and is heard by God and accomplishes a lot! James 5:16, “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective”! What a reward for simply honoring people for who they are.

You see we need to recognize that there are gifts and grace deposited in people around us. Once we understand that and begin to honor that gifting in them then we begin to be rewarded by the grace that flows through their life. Even Jesus said in one place that he could only heal a few people because they did not honor him in his hometown. They saw the carpenters son rather than the son of God! So it is possible to miss out on so much because we fail to esteem others around us.

Here is another statement made by our Lord when in John 4 he meets a woman that comes to draw water out of a well. He says to her “if you knew the gift of God you would ask of him and he would give you”. Recognize the gift and receive what the gift can deliver. Honor people and recognize them the way God sees them and according to what God has deposited in them (gift) in order to begin receiving great benefits!!