Passion 2019 Reading Plan Egzanp

Come like You want to
Come like You want to
Jesus have Your way 

-Welcome the Healer

There is a story in John 11 about Jesus raising His friend Lazarus from the dead. Many of us are familiar with this story, but there is an important detail that we must not miss. You see, Jesus was very close to Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. He had some significant shared life experiences with them, but when the sisters sent word to Jesus about their brother (knowing He could heal Lazarus) the Scriptures say that Jesus stayed where He was two more days.

Excuse me?

Jesus just stayed put… for two whole days… even when faced with an urgent and faith-filled request from people He loved.

Whether we’ve known Jesus for decades, or just days, it can be tempting when we invite Him into our pain, our sickness, our confusion, to ask Him to come like we want Him to come—immediately and with a present solution. We know what He’s capable of and we want it right now. But maybe there is something bigger at play. Maybe, as with Jesus and Lazarus, God’s timing is for His glory… “so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” John 11:4.  

By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had died. From all over, many people had gathered to mourn with Lazarus’ family. In fact, so many people had gathered that when Jesus called out and commanded Lazarus to stand up and breathe again, the number of witnesses to His power FAR exceeded the number who would have been there if Lazarus was simply sick. The result of Jesus’ apparent delay was that numerous men and women were brought from spiritual death to life, because they saw His power right before their eyes.  

The challenge here is a pretty significant one. As our faith continues to grow and mature, as we invite Jesus into the hard stuff of our lives, let’s ask Him to come like He wants to. He knows what He’s doing and it’s always bigger and more beautiful and complete when it happens in His way and His time.  

Written by: Jourdan Johnson