Lazarus Come Out From Your Frustration

“When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died!”.’ 

John 11:20-21, 32 NIV 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.11.20-32.NIV)

‘The Scottish Ambulance Service is under immense pressure, so our expected response time is an hour and a half. If you could find another way to get yourself to hospital, that would be better.’ 

So I was told by an operator on our national emergency phone line. 

Knowing that you were likely experiencing the symptoms of a stroke, and that the first two hours can be crucial for your survival, how would you react? 

In that situation, there was no time for frustration or debate or anger or finger-pointing.

None of these mattered. I needed to get to hospital. That’s what mattered. 

So I opened the door and called for help. 

In God’s timing and planning, a neighbour was passing with his dog and he took me to hospital. 

But it begs the question: how do we react when the things and the people on which we rely no longer seem to be there for us? 

Look at these verses. Really look at them. Mary and Martha are both in deep pain and filled with frustration. Jesus, the One whom they believed was the Messiah and had healed so many, had been informed that his beloved Lazarus was sick, yet He didn’t heal him. 

He knew Lazarus was dying, but He didn’t come to his aid. 

He knew Lazarus had died, yet He didn’t come to his funeral. 

Now, four days after Lazarus’ death, when, according to their tradition, Lazarus’ situation was beyond all hope and they were bereft of their brother, only now does Jesus appear? 

This seems to be the very definition of bad timekeeping! 

I can well imagine how these women could have called into question everything they ever thought they knew about Jesus.  

Yet – and this is amazing grace personified – Jesus did not react to their anguished frustration. He did not scold them for it. He simply accepted it. 

Because He understood it: 

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” 

Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV 

(Read the full passage at: https://bible.com/bible/111/heb.4.15-16.NIV)

If, today, you are frustrated and anguished because things have not worked out for you the way you thought they would, and if the things on which you thought you could rely have failed you, bring those frustrations to Jesus. Pour them out before His Throne. 

Because He understands. 

And He will have the answer.