The cliché says, “Good things come to those who wait.” The Bible presents us with a profound, divine truth: Christ’s waiting is an act of His everlasting love.
When Jesus heard his dear friend Lazarus was critically ill, he didn't rush to save him. He intentionally stayed two days longer. Was this indifference? Absolutely not. The popular saying subtly shifts our hope to a transactional system where we believe we are "owed" something. Scripture offers something infinitely better.
In this in-depth exploration of John 11:5–6, Pastor Clayton reveals that Christ’s delay was an act of profound, sovereign commitment. We examine the original Greek word for love (agapeˉ) to settle a foundational assurance:
- God’s Love is Unchanging: His commitment to you is a decree of His will, not a discovery of merit in the creature (Titus 3:4–7).
- The Delay is by Design: Jesus's purposeful waiting was not a failure of affection, but the sovereign choreography required to stage a greater display of God's glory and strengthen your faith.
- The Furnace of Faith: Christ’s love is not proven by how quickly He delivers us, but by how perfectly He conforms us to His glory (1 Peter 1:6–7). The trials of waiting are the furnace where faith is purified.
- The Ultimate Renewal: The "good thing" that comes is not a quick fix; it is Christ who comes to make all things new and wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:3–7).
His silence is not His absence. It is His promise on the way. Stop trying to fix everything yourself, and rest in the peace that comes from knowing the One you wait for is faithful to renew your strength (Isaiah 40:31).
Referenced Scripture (For the listener's benefit):
This week's message unpacks the deep truths found in the following Scriptures:
- John 11:4
- John 11: 5, 6
- 1 John 4: 8
- Deuteronomy 7: 7,8
- Titus 3: 4-7
- Romans 5: 6-8
- John 13: 1
- Jeremiah 31: 3
- John 11: 14, 15
- 1 Corithians 2:9
- Isaiah 30: 18
- Romans 5: 3-5
- 1 Peter 1: 6, 7
- Revelation 21; 3-7
- Isaiah 40: 31
- Romans 8: 32
- Matthew 7: 24-27
We look forward to seeing you again next Friday!
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