God's Love And Human Pain
Divine Grace In Action — Part 7
Jesus loved Lazarus. So why did He wait until he died? John 11 confronts the tension between divine love, human suffering, delayed answers, and wounded faith.
Let me begin with an apology. I had planned to begin my new series on the apostles today. However, I believe the Holy Spirit wanted me to continue the Grace in Action series with Part 7, which is what this post is. I’ll begin the new series next week.
The story of Lazarus’ death in John 11 is a classic illustration of the tension—and even apparent contradiction—between God’s love and human suffering. This age-old tension compels us to ask how a loving God could, or would, allow suffering in the lives of His people.
It is as much Martha and Mary’s story as it is Lazarus’—perhaps even more so. In Martha and Mary, we see the pain and the agony of loss, and feelings of betrayal. On the other hand, we also see divine love and divine response.
Much could be said about this story, but it stands as yet another example of grace in action. Let’s dive into it.
The Story Begins
The story unfolds with a message from Lazarus’ sisters to Jesus that he was sick. They said:
“...Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
— v.3
Notice the word “love,” because it captures the tension I mentioned earlier. Jesus’ love for Lazarus is further underscored when Scripture says:
“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”
— v.5
Yet what did Jesus do? He did not depart immediately for Bethany, but stayed two more days. Here lies the tension. We often expect God, who loves us, to deliver us the moment trouble comes. Sometimes He does. Other times, He doesn’t, because His plans are different from ours. Even in suffering, God is working toward His purposes.
Jesus finally departed two days later, but by then Lazarus had died—v.14–15.
God had not lost control, nor was He caught off guard. This had been part of the plan all along. He already knew how it would play out and that death would not be the end. Earlier, Jesus had said:
“...This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
— v.4 NIV
Jesus was about to do something that had never been done before. Lazarus’ case was different and unique because, although Jesus had raised others back to life, He had never raised someone who had been dead for four days.
When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Martha met Him first, then Mary. Both said the same thing to Him:
“...Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
— v.21, 32
I believe Martha said it out of anger. She blamed Jesus. In her mind, if He had come immediately, Lazarus would not have died.
Mary, on the other hand, spoke out of brokenness—the kind that struggles to reconcile suffering with the love of God.
Neither Martha—v.24, v.39—nor the people—v.37—could see any possibility of recovery from death. In their minds, death was the end—a finality.
Yet, Jesus went on to bring Lazarus back to life — v.44 — just like He told Martha “...Your brother will rise again.” — v.23. And there are several lessons we can learn from this story.
Lessons from the Story
1. Grace does not show up according to your timing, your schedule, or your expectations—but it will show up. Martha and Mary wanted Jesus to come immediately, but He did not. He acted according to His own timeline.
2. Grace does not wait for you to believe first. It acts even when your faith is weak. Martha did not truly believe Jesus when He told her:
“...Your brother will rise again.”
— v.23
If you read the dialogue that follows in verses 23–27, it may seem as though she believed Him, but she didn’t. We know this because in verse 39, when Jesus commanded them to take away the stone, Martha objected, saying:
“...Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
— v.39
Then Jesus reminded her:
“Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
— v.40
Grace acts even when your faith is imperfect, and it does not wait for your faith to catch up.
3. Grace does not care how long your problem has lasted, because nothing is impossible with God. Lazarus had been dead for four days, which, in their minds, was final. Up to this point, Jesus had never raised anyone who had been dead that long.
The length of your problem is no obstacle to the power of God. It does not matter how long you have been in a situation when grace intervenes.
Perhaps the reason the answer to your prayer has been delayed, or your situation prolonged, is because God is about to do something unprecedented for you—just as He did when He raised Lazarus after four days.
4. Grace gives more than you expect, even when you have stopped expecting altogether. Lazarus had been dead for four days. Martha, Mary, and everyone else believed the opportunity for intervention had passed. To them, death was final. Nothing more could be done.
Yet grace brought Lazarus back to life, even when no one expected it.
5. Grace does not condemn you when you struggle with God’s love. Mary—and especially Martha—must have wrestled with doubts about it. Remember, they appealed to Jesus on the basis of His love—v.3—yet He delayed coming.
God understands when your doubt is the language of disappointment.
6. Grace also does not condemn you when your faith in God’s faithfulness is shaken. Sometimes doubt is not the absence of faith, but wounded faith. Both sisters expressed it in the exact same statement—v.21 and v.32.
Yet Jesus did not condemn them. He raised Lazarus anyway. Know also that God does not condemn you for your wounded faith.
I’m excited to start my new series on the apostles next week. I hope you’ll engage with me and share your thoughts on the topics I’ll be raising. Stay tuned.