A MODEL OF PRAYER

John 11

            Lazarus was sick.  Very sick.  He was so dangerously sick that his sisters, Martha and Mary, decided they needed to send for Jesus.  “Lord, the one you love is sick.”  It strikes me that what Martha and Mary are doing is praying!  Lazarus was very sick (verse 1) so they sent word to Jesus (verse 3).  It seems like a natural thing for them, to send word to Jesus.  They trust Jesus.  Mary loved Jesus (she would wipe his feet with her hair).  The loved him so they send word to Jesus.  They wanted him to know their brother was dangerously ill.  They expected Jesus to do something.  This is prayer.  There is a need.  There is trust and love for Jesus.  Jesus is able to do whatever needs to be done.  So we send word to Jesus.  Is this anything other than a model of prayer?

            Jesus receives the message from the sisters.  He announces to his disciples that Lazarus’ illness “will not end in death.”  The natural thing to think is that Lazarus will not die.  But that’s not what Jesus says.  He says it will not end in death and we know the end of the story; it does not end in death because Jesus raises Lazarus from the grave to life.  So, in fact, this ends in life though death!

            Jesus also point out that what is happening to Lazarus is intended to bring glory to God by bringing glory to Jesus.

            What happens to Lazarus is a picture of the life of every Christian who has died.  Their lives do not end in death.  Rather, although their bodies have died their souls have been released to live with God.  Life through death!

            Also, our suffering is intended to bring glory to God.  God does not let us suffer because he doesn’t care.  He intends for our suffering to result in his glory.  We need to find how God can be glorified through our trials and suffering.  Our testimony in the midst of hardship can bring glory to God.

            Jesus loved this family (verse 5) yet he did not immediately come to their aid.  He waited two more days (verse 6) during which time Lazarus died.  The sisters surely thought their prayers had gone unanswered.  They must have been very disappointed.  They must have expected Jesus to hurry to Bethany and heal their brother.  But Jesus did not come and Lazarus died.  For them, this was a sorrow and their brother was gone.  How were they to know Jesus intended to come and do far more than they ever could have imagined?

            Is it not this way with us as well?  We pray for something and do not receive it.  How do we respond?  We didn’t get that which we requested.  God said, “No!”  But we must be aware that God intends something much better for us!  Something greater than what we asked for!