The Raising of Lazarus: When the Wait Is Worth It

1. A Story of Love and Delay

John 11 opens with a desperate message: “Lord, the one you love is sick.” It’s Lazarus—brother to Martha and Mary, and a close friend of Jesus. Naturally, we expect Jesus to drop everything and rush to heal him.

Instead, He waits two more days .

This delay is not due to apathy or inability. Jesus makes His motive clear:

“This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” —John 11:4

This tension between divine love and divine delay sets the stage for one of the most breathtaking miracles in the Gospels—and teaches us that sometimes the wait is where the miracle is shaped .

2. The Disciples’ Confusion and Fear

When Jesus finally decides to return to Judea, His disciples are concerned—not about Lazarus, but about Jesus’ safety. The last time they were there, Jewish leaders tried to stone Him.

“But Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” —John 11:8

Jesus answers with a cryptic statement about walking in the light. He’s reminding them—and us—that obedience to God’s timing is never truly dangerous when you walk in the light of His will .

This moment reveals something vital: the delay isn’t just about Lazarus. It’s also about the formation of faith in those around Jesus —the disciples, the grieving sisters, and even the skeptical crowd.

3. Martha: The Grieving Believer

When Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been dead four days. Martha, ever the doer, rushes out to meet Him. Her first words:

“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” —John 11:21

There’s both faith and frustration in her words. She believes in Jesus’ power—but not in the wait. Yet what follows is one of the most important theological declarations in the New Testament:

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” —John 11:25

Here, Jesus doesn’t just promise resurrection— He declares that He is resurrection .

Martha doesn’t get an immediate solution. She gets a deeper revelation .

4. Mary: The Brokenhearted Worshipper

Mary, the quieter sister, echoes the same words when she meets Jesus: “If You had been here...” (John 11:32). But unlike Martha, she collapses at His feet, weeping.

And it’s here that Jesus breaks down .

“When Jesus saw her weeping... He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” —John 11:33

And then:

“Jesus wept.” —John 11:35

Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus. But He still cried. Why?

Because divine power doesn’t override divine empathy . Jesus enters into our pain, even when He’s already prepared the solution.

Mary didn’t get theological answers. She got tears of compassion .

5. The Crowd: Skepticism and Curiosity

The crowd at the tomb is mourning, but also judging .

“Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” —John 11:37

They represent a familiar voice in our own seasons of waiting: the inner skeptic that questions God’s goodness in the face of apparent silence.

And yet, they are the ones who witness the glory.

Jesus doesn’t just answer the prayers of the faithful— He reveals Himself even to those who doubt .

6. The Tomb: A Place of Transition

Standing before the tomb, Jesus commands:

“Take away the stone.” —John 11:39

Martha, ever practical, protests: “Lord, by this time there is a bad odor...”

The tomb represents finality . It’s where we believe things are beyond hope. But Jesus sees the tomb not as an ending but as a gateway to glory .

“Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” —John 11:40

God’s delays often lead us to tombs—dead dreams, broken relationships, prolonged illness—but they’re not places of death. They’re platforms for resurrection .

7. Lazarus: Called by Name

Then comes the climax.

“Lazarus, come out!” —John 11:43

With that command, life returns , breath fills dead lungs, and a man walks out of his grave.

But Jesus doesn't stop there. He instructs the onlookers:

“Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” —John 11:44

Resurrection isn’t just about coming back to life—it’s about being set free to live again.

8. Why the Wait Was Worth It

Let’s revisit the timeline:

• Jesus waited two extra days.

• Lazarus was dead four days.

• Mary and Martha grieved .

• The disciples feared .

• The crowd doubted .

Yet in the end, the wait produced:

• A deeper revelation of Christ’s identity.

• A shared experience of divine empathy.

• A public miracle that pointed to Jesus’ power over death.

The delay magnified the glory .

9. What This Teaches Us About Waiting

God’s Delays Are Not Denials

Jesus didn’t say no—He just said not yet . Sometimes, God’s love allows the wait so that we can see something greater than we imagined .

Our Pain Has a Purpose

Grief isn’t meaningless. Martha and Mary’s sorrow led to the clearest declaration of resurrection in Scripture. Your pain may be preparing the ground for revelation and transformation .

The Miracle Is Bigger Than You

The raising of Lazarus wasn’t just for the sisters—it was for the disciples, the crowd, and even us today. God’s work in your life may have ripples far beyond your vision .

10. Living the Lazarus Life

Have you been waiting?

Waiting for healing.
Waiting for a breakthrough.
Waiting for clarity.
Waiting for God to move.

Let this story remind you:

• The wait is not wasted.

• Jesus is never late.

• God’s glory is often hidden in delay.

Sometimes, resurrection power only comes after the stone is sealed. But when Jesus calls your name, not even death can keep you bound.

Final Reflection: The Wait That Changed Everything

The story of Lazarus ends not in a funeral but in freedom .

It is a preview of Jesus’ own resurrection and a promise of ours. It is a testament that God’s love may delay action, but it never abandons us . In fact, His delay is often part of the miracle .

So when you're standing at your own tomb—when the wait feels unbearable—remember: He’s coming.

And when He speaks, the wait will have been more than worth it .

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
Teach us to trust Your timing, even when it feels late. Help us to believe that Your delays are filled with purpose, not punishment. Give us faith to wait well, hope to persevere, and the courage to remove the stones of doubt in our lives. When You call us from our tombs, help us to walk out in freedom and into Your glory. Amen.