We’ve come to the pivotal happening in the gospel of John. Many scholars call John 1-12 the “book of signs” and John 13-21 the “book of glory.” John 11 will tell us about the raising of Lazarus, the culmination and surrounding fervor of which was the last straw for the religious authorities. It’s one thing for him to walk around teaching as he is, but if people think this guy can raise the dead, he’s got to be dealt with. Lazarus’ raising will be the seventh and final sign. (Except for the resurrection, of course.)
As you read this story over the next couple of days, take note of Jesus’ posture and pace. We’ve often noted before that Jesus is always intentional, but never hasty. He is steady in hand, but never overreacts or jumps to conclusions.
In today’s passage, he even seems slow to act.
What’s striking is that John makes clear that Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters, yet he still chose to stay where he is for two more days. This deliberate delay feels counterintuitive—why wait when someone you love is sick? But throughout John’s gospel, Jesus operates on divine timing, not human urgency. He is never reactionary, never rushed. And as we will see, his delay is not neglect—it’s preparation. The raising of Lazarus will not only reveal God's power but also set in motion the events that lead to Jesus' own death and resurrection. The tension between urgency and divine timing is often where faith is stretched the most. Can we trust in the patience of God, even when it seems like help is slow in coming?
Many feel the events of today are calls for urgent action. Maybe they are. But we can be sure that God does not feel rushed. God is neither lethargic nor apathetic. But God is measured. His people ought to be, too.
We live in an age that demands urgency. Some things do require quick action. But Jesus teaches us that wisdom isn’t about reacting to pressure—it’s about knowing when to move. God is neither reckless nor indifferent. God's timing is deliberate, and as God’s people, we are called to live in step with that divine wisdom—not passive, but patient; not frantic, but faithful.
John 11:1-6
A certain man, Lazarus, was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This was the Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was ill.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, “Lord, the one whom you love is ill.”
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This illness isn’t fatal. It’s for the glory of God so that God’s Son can be glorified through it.” Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. When he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was.
Psalm 130:1-2, 5-6
I cry out to you from the depths, Lord—my Lord, listen to my voice! Let your ears pay close attention to my request for mercy!
I hope, Lord. My whole being hopes, and I wait for God’s promise. My whole being waits for my Lord—more than the night watch waits for morning; yes, more than the night watch waits for morning!
Prayer
God,
I confess that I sometimes struggle with anxious impatience. If I think something needs to happen, I want it to happen now. When the world feels urgent, I feel the pull to react.
Thank you for the example of Jesus who shows me an alternative way—one that is steady, intentional, and never hasty.
Help me trust in your timing, especially when it doesn’t align with my own. Give me wisdom to know when to wait and when to move. Let my faith be rooted not in immediate outcomes, but in your presence, your purpose, and your unfailing love.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
These days, I watch at the new president moves in ways we could consider, “hasty.” At least that’s my perception of it. Some of the things that are happening make me angry. Other people whose opinion I trust show me where some of the things are beneficial too. I’m not here to debate any of that. I’m really not. So please don’t misunderstand me. I think both can be true.
I’m struck with the idea that in the areas that I find most disconcerting, it’s likely the place where I have the most opportunity to be a disciple of Jesus. A portion of yesterday’s scripture reading comes to mind:
“If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. But if I do them, and you don’t believe me, believe the works so that you can know and recognize that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Those are the words of Jesus, but couldn’t they be our words too? I mean, if we are doing the works of the father as Jesus modeled for us?
And, when I want to lash out or respond in haste to the hasty actions of another that I understand to be harmful, perhaps patience and quiet acts of discipleship is how I should respond.
Just some things I’m thinking about today.
“Many feel the events of today are calls for urgent action. Maybe they are. But we can be sure that God does not feel rushed. God is neither lethargic nor apathetic. But God is measured. His people ought to be, too.”
I love this!!!