Jesus Loves You? SO What?

John 11:5-6. “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  SO when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.”

So what if you say you love someone – what are you going to do about it? Love requires action. Love is worth nothing if it is just words. But many think that love means doing whatever the other person wants whenever they want it. This is not correct. True love does what is in the best interest of the loved one.

Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus very much, SO when He heard Lazarus was sick He stayed away two days longer. But why would He stay away if he loved the siblings so much. Because He cared deeply for them, He waited in order for God to be glorified and the grief stricken sisters to become stronger in faith.  Mary and Martha misunderstood His great love as they lamented the eventual death of their only brother. “Lord, if You had been here, our brother would not have died.”

Jesus wept at the sister’s great sorrow, but He had something better in mind for them and all those who witnessed the next event. “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, SO that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

Standing by the tomb fully aware that the body of Lazarus was starting to decay and stink, Jesus commanded the stone to be moved away and prayed. “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, SO that they may believe that You sent Me.”

Jesus then called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” and the once dead man came out very much alive. Many believed in Jesus that day.

Why did Jesus wait to come to help the dying man? Because belief is essential to eternal life. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” By waiting Jesus moved many towards the all important faith they needed to experience everlasting life.

Jesus loves us too.  SO sometimes He allows difficult things into our lives to draw out our faith in Who He is and His ability to come through. His are not just words but the most loving of actions. Do you love Him? SO what are you going to do about it? Believe! That’s what He wants the most.

Love,

Mama