God Has a Higher Purpose

The Death of Lazarus: The Delay (I)

Welcome to The-Way Ministry

Partner Acknowledgment

Good afternoon. Before we dive into God’s Word today, we want to express our deep gratitude to our supporting ministry partners:

Luminous Church — San Antonio, TX
Sowers Church of Christ — San Antonio, TX
Christian Community Church of Ministry — Bangladesh
Victory Group Bible Study

Thank you for standing faithfully alongside us as we proclaim the grace, truth, and light of Jesus Christ.

Introduction

With grateful hearts, let us turn to the Scriptures.

John Chapter 10 concludes not with defeat, but with divine alignment. As Jesus remains in the quiet wilderness beyond the Jordan, a spiritual threshold is crossed. This quiet harvest serves as the calm before His ultimate sign: the resurrection of Lazarus in John 11.

Although opposition in Jerusalem will soon reach its peak, so will the manifestation of God’s glory. The choice once presented on Solomon’s Porch remains the choice before every human heart today: Will we pick up the stones of self-righteous rebellion, or will we cross over to the place of humble faith and follow the way of Jesus Christ?

Because John Chapter 11 is entirely dedicated to the raising of Lazarus, we will explore this powerful narrative in four distinct parts:

Part I (vv. 1–16): The Delay
Part II (vv. 17–27): The Conversation with Martha
Part III (vv. 28–37): The Conversation with Mary & Jesus’ Grief
Part IV (vv. 38–57): The Miracle & The Plot

In today’s message (Part I: The Delay), we will examine four key movements throughout verses 1–16 and explore their broader biblical connections:

Movement 1: Delay Is Not a Lack of Love (vv. 1–6)
Movement 2: God Has a Higher Purpose Than Our Comfort (vv. 4, 14–15)
Movement 3: Walking in the Light Means Walking by Faith, Not Fear (vv. 7–10)
Movement 4: Imperfect Faith Is Still Faith (vv. 11–16)

Scripture Reading: John 11:1-16 (NKJV)

Now, a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. ²It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. ³Therefore, the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

⁴When 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.”

⁵Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. ⁷Then after this, He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

⁸The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?”

⁹Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. ¹⁰But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” ¹¹These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”

¹²Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well.” ¹³However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

¹⁴Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him.”

¹⁶Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

Movement 1: Delay Is Not a Lack of Love (John 11:1–6)

We have all sent an urgent, desperate prayer into the sky, expecting an immediate rescue, only to be met with complete silence.

“Lord, heal this body.”
“Lord, fix this marriage.”
“Lord, open this door.”

When God doesn’t rush to our aid on our schedule, our human nature naturally jumps to painful conclusions: Does He hear me? Does He care? Is He mad at me?

If you find yourself stuck in a season of waiting today, John chapter 11 opens with a story written directly for you. It’s the story of Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus—a family that loved Jesus deeply, only to watch Him deliberately pause when they needed Him most.

The Surprise of Verse 6

The opening verses of John 11 present one of the most surprising juxtapositions in all of Scripture:

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.” — John 11:5–6

Notice the connector word: “So” (or “Therefore” in some translations).

Human logic expects verse 6 to read: “Jesus loved them, SO He dropped everything and rushed to Bethany.” Instead, John writes that because Jesus loved them, He stayed put for two more days. Love was the direct motivation behind the delay.

A delay in God’s answer is never proof of His absence, indifference, or lack of love.

When “Not Yet” Is Actually God’s Grace

I know how hard this is to swallow at the moment because I’ve lived it.

For years, I prayed and waited for the opportunity to buy a house. The doors remained firmly shut year after year, and it was easy to fall into the trap of thinking God was withholding a good thing from me, or that my prayers were hitting a brick wall.

But looking back, that long delay was God’s wisdom and protection at work.

By the time the right home finally opened up, God had systematically provided everything we needed behind the scenes. We were able to move into our house already having all the furniture required—without taking on deep, crushing debt just to furnish it. Had God answered my prayer on my timeline, I would have walked into a blessing unprepared, burdened by financial strain, and overwhelmed.

God’s delay wasn’t a lack of love—it was grace. He held back the house until both the house and my family were actually ready for it.

Just like with Martha and Mary, Jesus didn’t rush to Bethany because He knew a rush job would rob them of a far greater blessing. If you are sitting in a long season of waiting right now, trust that God is working behind the scenes. He isn’t just preparing the answer for you; He is preparing you for the answer.

Movement 2: God Has a Higher Purpose Than Our Comfort (vv. 4, 14–15)

Trading Temporary Relief for Eternal Revelation

When a crisis hits, our immediate human instinct is to ask for relief. We want the pain to stop, the bill to be paid, or the sickness to leave. Naturally, we ask God for comfort.

As the story of Lazarus unfolds, however, Jesus reveals an uncomfortable truth: God is far more interested in building your faith than maintaining your short-term comfort.

1. The Reality of the Grave

When news first reached Jesus that Lazarus was ill, He made a bold declaration that must have sounded confusing at the time:

“This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” — John 11:4

Fast forward a few days. Lazarus wasn’t just slightly sick anymore; his condition worsened, and he died. To human eyes, Jesus’ statement in verse 4 seemed to have failed completely. The worst-case scenario had happened.

That is when Jesus broke the news to His disciples with stunning clarity:

“Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.” — John 11:14–15

Read those words carefully: “For your sakes I am glad I was not there.” To the disciples, that sounded almost harsh. How could Jesus be glad He wasn’t there to stop a dear friend from dying? How could He express gladness while Mary and Martha were drowning in tears?

2. A Biblical Pattern: Sarah and Elizabeth

This divine strategy of waiting until a situation is humanly impossible is woven throughout the entire story of Scripture. God regularly allows circumstances to pass the point of natural remedy so that His power—and His power alone—receives the glory.

Sarah (Genesis 17–21): God promised Abraham a son, yet decades passed until Sarah was far past childbearing age. Why wait until her womb was humanly “dead”? Because when Isaac was finally born, no one could attribute the miracle to natural strength. God waited until all human capability vanished so that Isaac’s birth would be an unmistakable gift of divine promise.
Elizabeth (Luke 1): Like Sarah, Elizabeth suffered the quiet grief of childlessness into her old age. Yet God’s delay had a higher purpose: her son was destined to be John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah. Had God answered her prayer decades earlier, the timing would not have aligned with Jesus’ earthly ministry. Her long season of waiting was directly tied to the arrival of the Kingdom of God.

Just as with Sarah and Elizabeth, God was not being negligent with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He was aligning their heartbreak with a grander, eternal purpose.

3. A Lesser Miracle vs. A Greater Revelation

Jesus was glad because He was looking at a bigger picture than immediate relief:

If Jesus had rushed to Bethany in verse 6 and healed a sick man on his bed, it would have been a wonderful miracle. It would have saved the family from grief, kept everyone comfortable, and proven once again that Jesus was a great healer.
But healing a sick man would have only built ordinary faith.

By allowing Lazarus to die—by letting the situation get as bad as it could possibly get—Jesus set the stage for something that would shatter their entire concept of what was possible. Calling a man out of a tomb after four days proved that Jesus was not just a healer of illnesses; He held absolute authority over death itself. Jesus traded their temporary comfort for an eternal, unshakeable revelation of who He was.

4. When Things Go from Bad to Worse

We often assume that if a situation deteriorates after we pray, God must have abandoned us:

You prayed for job security, and you got laid off.
You prayed for reconciliation, and the divorce papers were served.
You prayed for healing, and the diagnosis came back worse.

When your situation goes from “sick” to “dead,” it doesn’t mean God missed His cue. It often means He is positioning you for a level of resurrection power you couldn’t have witnessed any other way.

God is willing to let your current circumstances break your comfort if it means breaking your limits on who you believe He is. He never wastes pain; He redirects it toward His glory and your deeper faith.

The Key Takeaway: If God is allowing your situation to get harder despite your prayers, don’t assume He has failed. Like Sarah, Elizabeth, and the sisters of Bethany, He may be passing over a lesser miracle to give you a greater revelation of His power.

Movement 3: Walking in the Light Means Walking by Faith, Not Fear (John 11:7–10)

After waiting two agonizing days, Jesus turns to His disciples and drops a bombshell: “Let us go back to Judea.”

To the disciples, this sounded like absolute madness. Judea wasn’t just another region; it was a death trap.

The Fear of Going Back

The disciples instantly push back:

“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” — John 11:8

You can hear the anxiety in their voices. They were looking at the circumstantial evidence around them—hostile leaders, death threats, and recent violence. Fear told them that going back to Judea was a suicide mission.

How often do we act just like the disciples? When God prompts us to step into a difficult conversation, take a bold leap of faith, or revisit a situation that hurt us in the past, fear screams at us to stay where it is safe. We start calculating the risks instead of trusting the One who is calling us to move.

Walking in the Day vs. Stumbling in the Night

Jesus answers their panic with a parable about daylight:

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” — John 11:9–10

Jesus wasn’t giving them a meteorology lesson; He was giving them a spiritual principle about God’s timing and divine assignment:

Walking in the Day (Obedience): As long as you are walking in step with God’s will and timing, you are walking in the “daylight.” God’s protection, presence, and light encompass you. You do not need to fear human threats or hostility because nothing can cut short the work God has appointed for you to do.
Stumbling in the Night (Impatience & Fear): Walking at “night” happens when we move on our own schedule, driven by fear, self-preservation, or impatience. When we try to force open doors God hasn’t unlocked or hide from the mission He called us to, we step into the dark and start stumbling.

Faith Moves at the Speed of Obedience

The lesson for the disciples—and for us—is clear: Safety is not found in avoiding danger; safety is found in remaining in God’s will.

Being in the safest place geographically or financially means nothing if you are out of alignment with God’s voice. Conversely, stepping into the lion’s den is the safest place on earth if Jesus is walking right beside you.

When you let fear dictate your choices, you allow your circumstances to overshadow God’s command. But when you walk by faith, you recognize that if God has called you to go back to “Judea,” He has already provided the daylight you need to take the next step.

The Takeaway: Stop letting yesterday’s threats dictate your obedience today. When Jesus says it is time to move, you can step out into the daylight with confidence—no matter how dangerous the path looks.

Movement 4: Imperfect Faith Is Still Faith (John 11:11–16)

After addressing the danger of returning to Judea, Jesus brings the conversation back to the real reason for their journey:

After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” — John 11:11

His disciples, missing the metaphor entirely, respond with classic human literalism: “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better” (v. 12). They thought Jesus was talking about natural rest.

Jesus had to speak plainly: “Lazarus is dead” (v. 14).

The Clumsy Courage of Thomas

This brings us to one of the most underrated, relatable figures in the Gospels: Thomas—often remembered only as “Doubting Thomas.”

When it becomes undeniably clear that Jesus is going back to Judea despite the death threats waiting for Him, Thomas looks around at the rest of the frightened, confused group, sighs, and speaks up:

Then Thomas (also called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” — John 11:16

Notice what Thomas’s response actually is.

It isn’t an exuberant shout of triumphant victory. It’s pessimistic, dramatic, and borderline gloomy. He fully expects that this trip is going to end in their tragic execution. He doesn’t understand the grand resurrection plan Jesus has in store. He doesn’t grasp the miracle about to take place.

And yet, look at what Thomas does: He still moves.

He doesn’t pack up his bags and walk away. He doesn’t let his confusion or pessimism stop him from following Jesus into the danger zone. His understanding was flawed, his mood was somber, but his allegiance was settled.

You Don’t Need Perfect Feelings to Have Real Faith

So many believers get sidelined because they think true faith requires feeling 100% confident, upbeat, and fearless all the time. They think that if they have doubts, anxieties, or a naturally pessimistic outlook, God can’t use them or that their faith doesn’t count.

Thomas proves the exact opposite: God does not require flawless understanding or cheerful emotion for you to be a true follower of Christ.

You can be scared and still obey.
You can be confused about what God is doing and still follow Him.
You can say, “Lord, I don’t see how this ends well, but I’m coming anyway.”

Step Forward in Your Shaky Faith

Faith isn’t the absence of fear or confusion; faith is the willingness to keep walking with Jesus even when your emotions are screaming at you to run the other way.

When Jesus calls you to take a hard step, He doesn’t ask you to pretend everything is easy or to put on a fake smile. He simply asks for your feet. Bring your doubts, bring your heavy heart, bring your clumsy, imperfect faith—and keep walking with Him.

The Takeaway: You don’t need giant, fearless faith to follow Jesus into the hard places. You just need enough faith to take the next step alongside Him, even if you’re saying, “Let’s go, even if we crash.”

Movement 4: Imperfect Faith Is Still Faith (John 11:11–16)

After addressing the danger of returning to Judea, Jesus brings the conversation back to the real reason for their journey:

After He had said this, He went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” — John 11:11

His disciples, missing the metaphor entirely, respond with classic human literalism: “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well” (v. 12). They thought Jesus was talking about natural rest.

Jesus had to speak plainly: “Lazarus is dead” (v. 14).

The Clumsy Courage of Thomas

This brings us to one of the most underrated, relatable figures in the Gospels: Thomas—often remembered only as “Doubting Thomas.”

When it becomes undeniably clear that Jesus is going back to Judea despite the death threats waiting for Him, Thomas looks around at the rest of the frightened, confused group, sighs, and speaks up:

Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” — John 11:16

Notice what Thomas’s response actually is. It isn’t an exuberant shout of triumphant victory. It’s pessimistic, dramatic, and borderline gloomy. He fully expects that this trip is going to end in their tragic execution. He doesn’t understand the grand resurrection plan Jesus has in store. He doesn’t grasp the miracle about to take place.

And yet, look at what Thomas does: He still moves.

You Don’t Need Perfect Feelings to Have Real Faith

So many believers get sidelined because they think true faith requires feeling 100% confident, upbeat, and flawless all the time. They think that if they have doubts, anxieties, or a naturally pessimistic outlook, God can’t use them or that their faith doesn’t count.

Thomas proves the exact opposite: God does not require flawless understanding or cheerful emotion for you to be a true follower of Christ.

You can be scared and still obey.
You can be confused about what God is doing and still follow Him.
You can say, “Lord, I don’t see how this ends well, but I’m coming anyway.”

A Personal Reflection: Stepping Out “Just as I Am”

I relate to Thomas’s clumsy, imperfect faith on a deep personal level.

For as long as I can remember, I have felt a burning desire to stand in the pulpit and preach the Word of God. Oh, how I have longed to preach His Word! Yet, for years, because of my own sinful nature, my visible flaws, and issues with my temperament, I repeatedly ignored the call. I allowed my imperfections to convince me that I wasn’t qualified or worthy to be used by God.

A few months ago, while working toward completing my master’s degree in Christian ministry, the Holy Spirit prompted me in a new direction: to research, write, and share my thoughts through a blog.

I didn’t step out as a perfectly polished or flawlessly trained minister, but simply as I am—flaws, temperament issues, and all. I realized that God wasn’t waiting for me to be perfect before He could use me. He just needed me to be willing. Through this blog, my heart desires to shed the true light of Christ in an honest, vulnerable, and Christ-centered way that others might fail to do when relying solely on human polish.

If you are waiting until you have your temper completely under control, your theology fully mastered, or your life entirely spotless before you step into your calling, you will wait forever. God doesn’t use perfect vessels; He uses willing ones.

The Takeaway: You don’t need giant, flawless faith to serve Jesus. You just need enough faith to take the next step alongside Him—flaws and all—and trust Him to shine through your brokenness.

Bringing It Home and The Choice Before Us Today

Every delay in Scripture is a crossroads. When God pauses, we are forced to decide whether we will judge His heart by our immediate circumstances or judge our circumstances by His unchanging character.

The story of John 11:1–16 doesn’t leave us as passive observers. It confronts us with a fundamental choice: Will we demand that God conform to our schedule and comfort, or will we yield to His higher purpose and sovereign timing?

Whether you are waiting on a house, carrying a heavy burden of personal flaws, or sitting in the quiet pain of an unanswered prayer, the mandate remains the same: Keep walking in the light. Step forward in faith—even if your legs are shaking and your understanding is incomplete. God is not ignoring your situation; He is orchestrating a revelation of His glory that far outweighs temporary relief.

Conclusion & Transition: Crossing the Threshold into John 11:17–27

As we leave the open road of Judea behind, the narrative shifts from the delay on the road to the reality of the grave.

Jesus has finally arrived on the outskirts of Bethany, but to human eyes, He is four days too late. Lazarus is buried, the mourners have gathered, and grief hangs heavy in the air. In our next study (John 11:17–27), we will step onto the scene alongside Martha as she walks out to meet Jesus—moving from the pain of an unanswered prayer directly into one of the most powerful theological declarations in all of human history:

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” — John 11:25

Questions for Private Meditation & Points of Reflection

On God’s Timing: In what area of your life are you currently interpreting God’s “wait” as God’s “no”? How does looking back at past delays help you see His protective grace today?
On Comfort vs. Character: Are you asking God merely to relieve your discomfort, or are you willing to let Him use a difficult situation to build an unshakeable faith in you?
On Imperfect Faith: What personal flaws, past mistakes, or feelings of inadequacy have kept you from answering God’s call to serve Him? How does Thomas’s “clumsy courage” encourage you to step out just as you are?

Call to Action & Partnership

If this study has encouraged your faith or given you fresh insight into God’s Word, please share it with someone who is currently walking through a difficult season of waiting.

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Let us stand together on the unwavering truth of God’s Word and walk the narrow path side-by-side. Your prayers, engagement, and support allow us to continue producing deep, scripture-focused teaching for all who are seeking Him.

Thank you for your prayers, your presence, and your partnership in the Gospel!

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Closing Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Blessings in Christ’s Grace and Truth,

Tomas

The-Way Ministry

Standing on Truth, Walking the Narrow Way

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Technical Study Annex & Exegetical Appendix

I. Comprehensive Biblical References

John 11:1–6 — The sickness of Lazarus and the divine delay.
John 11:7–10 — Walking in the daylight versus stumbling in the night.
John 11:11–16 — The death of Lazarus and Thomas’s declaration of loyalty.
Psalm 27:14 — “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
Isaiah 55:8–9 — God’s thoughts and ways are higher than human logic.
Romans 8:28 — God working all things together for the good of those who love Him.
2 Corinthians 12:9–10 — Grace sufficient in weakness; power made perfect in human frailty.

II. Critical and Exegetical Footnotes

John 11:5–6 (The Exegetical Pivot of Oun): The Greek conjunction oun (“so” / “therefore”) in verse 6 directly ties Jesus’ action (staying two days longer) to His affection in verse 5 (agapa). Exegetically, Jesus’ delay was not despite His love, but because of His love. The delay served a higher teleological purpose: bringing maximum glory to God and generating a deeper, salvific faith (pisteuō) in the disciples and sisters.
John 11:9–10 (The Metaphor of Light): The “twelve hours of daylight” refers to the Roman/Jewish division of daytime. In Johannine theology, “light” (phōs) consistently refers to divine truth, obedience, and alignment with the Father’s sovereign timeline (cf. John 8:12, John 9:4). Walking in the daytime signifies walking within the appointed period of divine protection and mission; walking at night signifies self-willed movement outside of God’s timing.
John 11:16 (The Characterization of Thomas): Thomas’s use of apothanōmen (“that we may die”) reflects a dramatic disposition, yet his grammatical construction represents a hortatory subjunctive (“Let us go”). Despite his fatalistic outlook, his grammatical choice mobilizes the group toward corporate alignment with Christ’s mission.

III. Canonical Cross-References: The Reversal of Eschatological Status

The narrative of John 11 stands as the climactic seventh sign in the Gospel of John, bridging Jesus’ public ministry to His passion week. It structurally mirrors and reverses established Old Testament themes of death, burial, and divine intervention:

Ezekiel 37:1–14 (The Valley of Dry Bones): Just as the Spirit of God breathes life into dead bones in the Old Covenant, Jesus demonstrates His divine identity (Yahweh) by commanding life into a corpse in the New Covenant.
Genesis 50:20 (Sovereign Reversal): What human circumstances mean for loss or evil, God designs for ultimate good and divine glory.
1 Corinthians 15:54–57 (Victory Over Death): The delay in John 11 anticipates the final, canonical victory where death is swallowed up in resurrection power.

IV. Key Greek Word Studies & Cross-References

Loved / Agapaō (ἀγαπάω) — John 11:5
- Definition: Moral, intentional, self-sacrificing divine love.
- Exegetical Insight: Distinct from emotional fondness (phileō in v. 3), agapaō highlights that Jesus’ decision to delay was an intentional act seeking their highest spiritual good rather than immediate emotional ease.
- Cross-References: John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 5:2.
Sickness / Astheneia (ἀσθένεια) — John 11:4
- Definition: Weakness, frailty, bodily illness, or spiritual incapacity.
- Exegetical Insight: Used here to demonstrate human limitation as the primary canvas for divine omnipotence (doxa).
- Cross-References: 2 Corinthians 12:9, Romans 8:26, Hebrews 4:15.
Glory / Doxa (δόξα) — John 11:4
- Definition: The intrinsic majesty, honor, weight, and visible radiance of God.
- Exegetical Insight: In the Gospel of John, God’s doxa is supreme when Christ is revealed on the cross and through signs that demonstrate His authority over creation.
- Cross-References: John 1:14, John 2:11, John 17:1–5.
Fallen Asleep / Koimaō (κοιμάω) — John 11:11
- Definition: Physical sleep; used metaphorically throughout the New Testament to describe the temporary death of a believer.
- Exegetical Insight: By reframing death as “sleep,” Jesus asserts absolute authority over the grave—implying that awakening a dead person is no more difficult for Him than waking someone from sleep.
- Cross-References: Matthew 9:24, Acts 7:60, 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14.

The Gospel of John Chapter 11:1-16 (NKJV)