Four Days Late, Yet Right on Time

John 11 tells the story of Jesus raising His good friend Lazarus from the dead. Note two verses here concerning the timeframe involved in this story. In verse 6, learning that His friend Lazarus was sick, "He stayed two more days in the place where He was." Then when He decided to go to Bethany, He told His disciples, "Lazarus is dead" (v. 14). Some time was involved in their travel, and when they arrived in Bethany, "He found that (Lazarus) had already been in the tomb four days (v. 17).

In Martha's mind, Jesus was four days late! She said, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (v. 21). "You're four days Late!" Yet, look at her faith as she continues, "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You" (v. 22). What faith! And note how Jesus responded: "Your brother will rise again" (v. 23).

Several years back, a song was recorded called, Four Days Late. It was about this very story. The message of the song was really the message of this passage: Jesus wasn't late at all; He was actually right on time. Jesus is never late. Jesus is always right on time.

Like Martha, when we pray about various circumstances in life and the answer to our prayer seems to come slowly, we question the Lord saying, "Why now? Why not sooner? Why? Why? Why?" The truth is, Jesus is never late. He is always right on time. His timing is always perfect. The answer comes when we need it, no sooner and no later.

The rest of this story clearly relates the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Note first, however, the explanation of death: Jesus "said to (His disciples), 'Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.' Then His disciples said, 'Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.' However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him'" (vv. 11b-15).

Three different Greek words are used here referring to death: The first, in verses 11-12 refers literally to sleep or to slumber, but is used figuratively to refer to one who is deceased, especially when speaking of believers. Death is not the complete cessation of life. The truth is, there is life after death. The body dies but the soul lives on. The second, in verse 13 is used of spiritual or physical death. The third, in verse 14 is closely related to the word used in verse 13, and refers to literal death.

So, when Jesus said, "Lazarus sleeps" (v. 11), the disciples misunderstood. They thought he was just resting to recover from a sickness. When Jesus said, "I go that I may wake him up" (v. 11), He was speaking of raising Lazarus from the dead, but the disciples were already confused. So Jesus cleared it up for them in verse 14. And in verse 15, Jesus explains that raising Lazarus from the dead would do more to strengthen their faith than just healing him of a sickness.

And so we continue with the story: When Martha was speaking with Jesus and He told her that Lazarus "will rise again" (v. 23), she said, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day" (v. 24), a truth that was not challenged. Rather, Jesus invoked the name of God as given to Moses, "I Am" (Exodus 3:14). Here Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (vv. 25-26).

Here we have the promise of life in His name. Heaven is real. Eternal life begins right now by faith in the Lord Jesus who died on the cross to give us life. Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will have eternal life in His name.

Notice how greatly moved Jesus was by all the sorrow and weeping around Him (v. 33). It says "He groaned in the spirit and was troubled" (v. 33b). In verse 35 John adds that "Jesus wept." Jesus cares. Jesus understands and He cares deeply. He is with each one of you right now because He cares. He is concerned for you. He wept for each person that was there that day. He let them see His own deep emotion, even though He knew what He was about to do—raise Lazarus from the dead.

And it was all for God's glory. In verse 40, Jesus told Martha, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" This is our promise of future resurrection. We will be with Christ Jesus and our loved ones again! Jesus weeps with us when we weep, even though He knows He will raise us up as well. He understands. He cares. He watches over us. He gives us peace.

Note the response of the people. When Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead (v. 43), "then many of the Jews who... had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him" (v. 45). Because they saw this miracle with their own eyes, they believed. Yet even before all of this had taken place, Martha expressed her faith in Jesus: "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world" (v. 27).

Do you believe? If you do, not only will you have eternal life with Jesus, but you will begin to experience His power in your life right now. Every day you can look to Jesus, and He will guide you and help you through whatever you face, because He cares for you. Amen.