Jesus Loved ... So He Stayed

Jesus loved...so He stayed

John 11:3-6 "Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Now JESUS LOVED Martha and her sister and Lazarus. SO, when He heard that he was sick, HE STAYED TWO MORE DAYS in the place where He was." (NKJV - Emphasis mine)

Being the Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy is a great blessing to me. I have to say I love speaking with the men and women who call the office. I share the love and hope of Christ to those who feel all hope is gone. Even so, my heart can get very heavy at times when there is great desperation to get a bed either "today" or as soon as possible. While I would love to get everyone one in "immediately," the pile of applications on my desk tells another story.

After a few days of desperate calls to the Intake Office and many men and families wanting to know just why there were no immediate beds, I was feeling a bit discouraged myself. Chaplain Jim Freed shared John 11 with me and pointed out a few words that I had certainly read many times but had never actually "heard" before.Jesus is some distance from His dear friends when he gets word that Lazarus is gravely ill. There is no mistaking the love that Jesus had for Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus. The Scriptures make it very clear in verse five "Jesus loved" them. And without a doubt they loved Jesus and believed He could save Lazarus from imminent death.

But then there is a tiny two letter word that follows, "SO" then the words "He stayed." Wait a minute....He loved them so much that He lagged behind?? Jesus knew what was going to happen. He knew that Lazarus would go though agony and then experience death. He knew that Mary and Martha's hearts would be broken as they watched the suffering and death of their brother. He knew the feelings of helplessness they would go through. He knew the deep grief they would experience at Lazarus's death...yet Jesus stayed. Can we understand this kind of love? Can we accept this kind of love? Only if we have faith and believe that God is sovereign in every situation and His timing is perfect even when we can't understand it or perhaps even accept it.

Further in chapter 11 Jesus tells Martha in verse 40 "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" Jesus' heart was so deeply grieved at all that had transpired that He wept at the tomb of His friend.We may never know the reasons Gods answers may be delayed or not answered in the manner we want or expect. But one thing is for certain...He loves His sheep and no matter how He answers, if we believe, we too will see God's glory revealed when the Lord answers our prayers. Even in His divine timing for a bed at the Colony of Mercy. -- Mary Ann is the Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy.

UPCOMING EVENT: Mary Ann is one of the featured speakers at our 3rd Annual Family and Friends Addiction Seminar: Binding Up the Broken Hearted. Please join Diane, Stephanie, MaryAnn, Bill P. and Jim F. for a day designed to provide practical help for individuals in relationship with an addicted person. It is our desire to give hope to the hopeless and to encourage the discouraged. Saturday, October 11th, 2008. 8:00 am -3:30 pm Sponsored by America's Keswick - Addiction Recovery Ministries. It will be held at an off-campus location: Whiting Bible Church, 95 Lacey Rd., Whiting, NJ 08759. $25.00 per person includes continental breakfast, lunch and materials. Call today for reservations and directions 732.350.1187 x. 10.