A key aspect of parenting is teaching the value of delayed gratification. Instead of buying fully grown flowers, together you can plant seeds. Instead of a box mix, together you can make a cake from scratch. Instead of a credit card with a spending limit, you can provide real currency and discuss together the principles of giving, saving and responsible spending.
The benefits of delayed gratification are numerous—increased self-discipline, resilience to challenges, resistance to anxiety, etc. That’s why parents see the wisdom in creating these opportunities, even when a child doesn’t see the need. The Lord develops this in His own children (even when they don’t see the need).
This is one of the lessons in the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. It begins, “Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha” (Jn. 11:1). Lazarus was sick but not dead, and this is how Jesus initially responded to the news. “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was” (Jn. 11:5-6).
Jesus “loved” all three of them, yet on hearing of Lazarus’s illness, Jesus stayed put for “two days longer.” Presumably, those nearest to Lazarus when he died didn’t know that Jesus had chosen to delay His arrival. Martha saw Him first and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (Jn. 11:21). Next was Mary, who repeated, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (Jn. 11:32). Jesus, Himself, then wept over their brother’s death. That sentiment was shared yet again by others in the community when they said, “Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” (Jn. 11:37).
There was widespread understanding that Jesus could have prevented Lazarus from dying, if only He had been there in time. In reality, Jesus could have been there before he died but instead chose to stay away “two days longer.”
There were two reasons for Jesus’ delay. One is that it advanced the redemptive storyline. That is to say, God had a big plan that involved Jesus’ enemies killing Him. We know that raising Lazarus from the dead contributed to that plan because immediately afterward the religious leaders gathered to discuss the “problem” of Jesus’ popularity. “So from that day on they made plans to put Him to death” (Jn. 11:53). It’s detailed again a few verses later.
When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of Him but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.” (Jn. 12:9-10)
Jesus tells us the other reason for His delay. “But when Jesus heard it He said, ‘This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it’” (Jn. 11:4). And again in John 11:15 where Jesus said, “For your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.” A third time, Jesus said to the Father, “I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that You sent Me” (Jn. 11:42).
The “two days longer” that Jesus waited was to glorify God and to bless His people. The pain was real (after all, Jesus wept!), but it was not wasted. The pain had purpose.
Perhaps you are currently living inside those “two days.” You know that God could solve the problem, but He has chosen not to, at least not yet. Take comfort in knowing that the God who could heal the illness ahead of time can also raise the dead afterward. Trust that His plan glorifies Himself and blesses His people.
The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works. (Ps. 145:17)