John 11:5 “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.”
You would think that because “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus” and that he had received word that “Lazarus” “was sick”, that He would have immediately rushed to Bethany to care for them. But, He didn’t, “he abode two days still in the same place where he was”. The lessons that they and we need to learn necessitated the trauma that was unfolding. Somewhat like the pure and strong faith demonstrated by Job. In his experience, Job was stripped of everything, including his health and even his friends tried to convince him of some great sin and strip him of his integrity; yet, he remained faithful to his God. The Lord expressed His love for Job when He “said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” (Job 1:8). Yet, “Satan” was allowed to severely afflict Job; but, out of that affliction we are strongly taught what it means to “live by faith” (Romans 1:17; Galatians 1:17; Hebrews 10:38). Thus, we understand what James meant when he wrote, “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (James 5:11). In teaching, the teacher creates situations and events to help the students remember the essential points of the lesson, just as our Lord did for us in this case. In the case of “Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus” we learn essential lessons in God’s Sovereign Power, our Lord’s compassion toward us when there is a death, and the Power of our Lord to raise the dead to life as He will on the last day of this present world. So, even in times of great pain and sorrow we are comforted, “for he careth for you” (I Peter 5:7) and one blessed and holy day we will hear His Commanding Voice raising all that His Father hath given Him to Eternal Life to be forever with Him (John 6:39).