22nd March 2026

At first glance, the header scripture seems perplexing, and troubling. It is baffling to read that when Jesus heard that his dear friend Lazarus was sick, he didn’t rush to Bethany but stayed where he was for another couple of days. And what is more intriguing is that we are told that ‘Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus’ (v.5). The conclusion is that because Jesus loved them, he delayed – how confusing.   

From a human perspective delays seem like indifference or apathy, and certainly display a lack of interest, concern or sympathy. When we pray and nothing changes, we may wonder, whether God sees our plight. Doesn’t he care about me? Why isn’t he doing something? Yet this passage teaches us that divine delay can coexist with divine love. Jesus’s waiting was not a lack of compassion, but it was part of a greater purpose. Sometimes what feels like neglect is actually preparation for something we may never have dreamed of.

If Jesus had arrived immediately, he would have no doubt healed Lazarus from his sickness  – that would have been powerful enough – but because Jesus waited, he raised Lazarus from the dead. The delay turned a healing into a resurrection. The apparent setback became an opportunity for a wonderful testimony. In Jesus the grave is defeated because he is ‘the resurrection and the life’ (v. 25). What, to us, can feel like Jesus has left it too late to act is in fact right on time for God. 

For Martha it seemed like God was silent for four days, and yet God was working behind the scenes. Likewise, in our seasons of silence when prayers don’t seem to be answered, or doors are not opened, this story reminds us that silence does not mean absence, and delays do not mean defeat. 

What can we do while waiting on God for an answer? Here are some thoughts:

• Trust his character – ‘If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’ (Romans 8:31-32). 
• Keep on praying – ‘pray continually’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17). 
• Refuse to interpret delay as rejection – ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’ (John 11:11).
• Believe that he sees the full picture – ‘…for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.’ (John 11:15).

In this account, Jesus didn’t prevent Martha’s pain (John 11:21), but he did redeem it so she could believe in him (v.27). If there are occasions in your life where it feels Jesus is ‘two days late’, the Saviour who raised Lazarus by name, and brought life out of death can and will do the same for you.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church