Scripture tells us over and over again that God knows the plans He has for us.
Which inherently implies that we don’t.
There is something He knows that we don’t. Something is brewing that we can’t see. We get focused on the disappointment, the frustration of interrupted plans, all the while forgetting that we are part of a bigger plan.
I grew up going to Sunday school, where each week, we read scripture, but called it “Bible stories.” Now, I love a good story, but as an adult, I’m kinda starting to think “stories” is an inaccurate description. Whenever I got caught in a lie, my grandmother would say I was “telling stories.” So do we really want to use that particular descriptor when dealing with the word of God?
That’s not a knock on my upbringing – nor is it a comment on my honesty (or lack thereof…) as a child. I’m really just making the observation of how the words were used and what that unintentionally communicates to a child – these are just stories. No more powerful than the fairy tales-turned-Disney-masterpieces we watched on the weekends.
We are often focused on the disappointment and frustration of our interrupted plans… all the while forgetting we are part of a bigger plan.
The hope is that as we grow up in the Word, we recognize that these are chapters in a greater story. One that we get the chance to see unfold in our own lives. But if we don’t read the chapters that came before our chapter, then we risk completely misunderstanding the narrative.
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating – Scripture isn’t wrong. Never has been. Our understanding, however, can easily be misguided. This is why we have to learn to read the Bible well. Don’t stop at the surface. Keep digging. There are treasures to be unearthed.
I recently spent time studying the story of Lazarus’ resurrection in John 11 (go read it…like everyday this week..it’s so good), and you know what I noticed? Mary and Martha – Lazarus’ sisters – had a plan. But Jesus had a purpose. At some point in this narrative, each sister uttered the words, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
That’s quite the assumption. One based on Jesus’ character, but an assumption nonetheless. This got me thinking… How often do we make assumptions about what God wants to do? Based on His character and his track record, for sure. But how do we really know what God wants to do?
In all of our faith talk, are we still leaving room for the fact that He knows something we don’t? They had a plan, but Jesus had a greater purpose.
As we grow up in the Word, we learn that these are chapters in a greater story. But if we don’t read the chapters that came before our own, then we risk completely misunderstanding the narrative.
In the case of Lazarus, Jesus had a purpose far greater than healing. Even greater than resurrection. Well, greater than Lazarus’ resurrection at least. At this point, Jesus has healed multiple people – which is likely why Mary and Martha assumed he would heal their brother. He’s also fed the 5,000, turned water into wine, and walked on water. Yet in regards to Lazarus, he tells those around Him that this happened so that they would believe.
Question: Why do they not believe yet?
This doesn’t make sense, and yet I’m oddly comforted by the fact that even those who walked closest with Jesus struggled in their faith. But He didn’t give up on them. He was willing to let his friend die so that He could bring Him back to life, that they may believe.
In all of our faith talk, are we still leaving room for Him to be Lord?
Or are we too busy declaring what He should be doing?
But the most miraculous thing about this miracle is what it cost Jesus. When you keep reading in John 11, after Lazarus has come back to life, after many have believed, you get to this one sentence in verse 53…
So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.
This verse brought so much to light about the rest of this story. Lazarus’ resurrection was the very moment that would become the catalyst for the events leading to Jesus’ own resurrection.
Before Jesus could be resurrected, He had to die.
Before He died, He suffered.
Before He suffered, He was arrested.
Before He was arrested, He stood at the tomb of His friend Lazarus, visibly shuddering from the weight of the moment.
Jesus’ lack of action is not indicative with a lack of love. He just knows something we don’t know.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!