WORDS

The true hope that comes before the miracle

Even after telling Jesus his brother might not have died, Martha was faithful Jesus could make a difference if He wanted.

28/07/2017

By: Bishop Jorge Pinheiro

In John 11: 1, when people preach Lazarus` resurrection, they talk about how it was performed, but I want to talk about the moment before the miracle happened, because that`s the gathering of hope. Hope, led by faith, is to believe before something happens. Likewise, while God works on your hope through miracles, the devil works through negative expectations in order to make people, who are pessimist, and negative declare their failure. Thus, things go wrong in their lives. Jesus loved Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. However, Lazarus became sick. The message that he was sick came to Jesus. Some may question that if Jesus loved Lazarus so much, why did he get sick? David, when he said that “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,” conditions we can`t imagine we may go through, and Lazarus went through them too. We will see why later. Jesus said the sickness was not for death, but for the glory of God, so He knew Lazarus was about to die. He also knew what it would happen, and that it`s necessary big things to happen to us for everyone to believe in the Lord. If your condition is so tough, believe because what God will perform in your life will be huge that people around you will glorify God together with you for your deliverance, your victory because they came for the glory of the Lord.

That`s why we have to glorify God all the time, everywhere, and in everything. If your conditions are not that good, even if they are tough, worship the Lord because just for being alive is a reason for you to praise the Lord.

When Jesus got to know about Lazarus` disease, He didn`t go there to help him. In several excerpts in the Bible, Jesus immediately healed people, but in Lazarus` case, He didn`t do it. It took two days for Jesus to go there. Meanwhile, his condition worsened, and he died. Some people may think Jesus took so long to go there, but He didn`t. Some things happen immediately, there others that take longer because it depends on God`s wish. Just God knows the right time. Martha told Jesus He arrived late. It was at night, but He said it was during the day and it will be daylight for us too. The Lord is working, and it`s time for Him to perform miracles. That`s why Jesus said it was noon. For us, they are the days of our lives. While we have life, it is daylight, and we have hope. For Jesus, death was like a dream, and the disciples didn`t understand because He talked about Lazarus` death as if he were resting. So, Jesus was very clear when He said that Lazarus was dead. Jesus knew about it. It could be strange, but Jesus was happy because He knew Lazarus would be resurrected. He didn`t care about death, but He was sure thousands of other people, and we would believe in Him through this miracle. Miracles like this one are told even today. This situation makes people feel that, even if hope is frustrated, God is mighty In Jesus` delay, four days of Lazarus’ death were gone, and many Jews comforted Mary and Martha. Martha met Jesus and said that, if He had been there, Lazarus wouldn’t have died. Even if it were today, He would be able to do what He did. When Martha said so, she showed faith. Four days later in the funeral, the flesh was rotten, in decomposition. Suddenly, You face yourself in a similar condition, I mean, you called Jesus, but He hasn`t answered yet. How many of us are at the church, but we receive our miracle just later on? We have to persevere. When Martha asked Jesus, she wasn`t immediately answered. Her brother died, it seemed that Jesus hadn`t heard her, but He did, and He knew Lazarus would die. He didn`t answer right away, He waited for the right moment, He didn`t portalt about them, and He delivered them their brother perfect and healthy as they were waiting for and the way he was before. The way things happen depends on God, and He knows what is best. Let God does the work in your life the way He wants. We waste time figuring out how God will do, but His way is the best. Let Him work, rely on Him, and be hopeful. We know the rest of this history. Jesus called Lazarus, he answered, and revived. Before everyone, the dead man was restored and those who watched believed in Him. That`s what God wants to do, a miracle that everyone can see and believe in His power. If it seems to take long, it`s because miracle will be bigger. Be aware that your miracle, God has already delivered. Miracles come at the right moment. The cry out for hope is to show us that we have to keep our faith, confidence, and hope alive.