Taste and See

I was craving a sweet taste of Jesus today, balm for this healing heart and rhythmic relationship that lately has felt fledgling. Reading the story of Lazarus with fresh eyes awakened a new adoration, loving a bit more than I did before.

Here are some things I recognized about my Savior in this John 11 encounter:

He redeems. It is in his very character—he can’t not compensate, restore the faults or bad aspects of something. “It [Lazarus’ illness] is for the glory of God.” The most horrific tragedy (death) will bring the highest good (God’s glory).

He appears complex, confusing or in other words, his ways are a mystery and far beyond ours. “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” WHAT. How are those two statements even compatible? Somehow, because Jesus loved them, he waited. He seemingly ignored.

“…for your sake I am glad that I was not there [with Lazarus], so that you may believe” Again, some backwards thinking, greater good.

He can handle my disappointment and incredulity at his actions. “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Three times in this short passage Jesus heard these word or something similar. Not once did he lash out or reprimand. Instead, he cried and acted.

He is emotional. When he saw Mary weeping he was “deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.” He wept. Jesus knew in a matter of minutes that Lazarus would be living again, yet he chose to first grieve with his daughter, friend. He felt her loss and entered that sacred space with her. Ah, a gentle healer.

His plan can never be thwarted. He has authority over life and death. He didn’t just sit with Mary in her emotions, he then chose to act, to redeem. “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

 

"Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him..."