I’ve always struggled with the story of Lazarus, and understanding Jesus’ decision to stay away. To wait two weeks before going to Martha and Mary.
A very dear friend once said to me. “If you called and said you needed me, I’d be on my way within minutes. But He waited 2 weeks? Why? Just so he could make it about him. Just so he could show off what he could do. Sounds like a narcissist.”
Those words cut me so deeply.
And I knew it wasn’t true.
Yet, at the time, I couldn’t quite find the words to refute her, because I couldn’t understand why Jesus would wait.
What was the real lesson and message?
Why didn’t he go right away?
Why didn’t he save Lazarus, even though he knew he could?
I was certain it wasn’t just about glorifying himself, but I still couldn’t grasp the ‘why’.
Today’s passage made me think about that conversation and the story of Lazarus all over again.
The passage revealed a few things, “Jesus enters our grief – not to fix it immediately, but to feel it with us. He draws near in tears, in silence, in presence.”
John 11:35 ”Jesus wept”.
So maybe the story wasn’t just about what Jesus could or could not do for Lazarus.
Maybe, like being a parent, even though we could prevent a difficulty or solve a problem for our child, we need to let them learn and grow from their experiences.
I think we can all agree, when it comes to our children, young or adult, there are times we can see a freight train coming from a mile away. And we want to jump in and divert the tracks to spare our child.
But sometimes, in order to help guide them, we need to step aside and let them spot the warning lights on their own.
It doesn’t mean we don’t care about their struggles…it doesn’t mean we want to see a collision just so we can step in, pick up the pieces, and save the day afterwards.
I think, as painful and hard as it may be for us, it means we love them enough to let them stumble.
We love them enough to let them live and learn…
And hopefully to help them grow closer to God along the way.
So maybe, that’s what was happening with Lazarus.
Jesus could have intervened and prevented his death, we all know it, but maybe there’s more to it than that.
Maybe it was about sharing His love for them. About feeling what they felt.
Maybe the lesson is that even in our deepest sorrows, Jesus is there and he loves us enough to let us fall.
I certainly don’t understand God’s plan, or his timing. Nor will I claim to understand the “why” in each of our sad experiences and troubles.
But I am certain of one thing…
God is by our side and feeling it along with us.
If we bring it all to God, raw and unpolished, we don’t have to explain and we don’t have to understand.
In those moments, we can simply weep in his arms…
“Jesus, you wept with Martha. Be near me in my sorrows and teach me your compassion. Amen.”
