Lord, If You Had Been Here…

The sisters sent word to Jesus saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” John 11:3

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. John 11: 5-6

Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:20-21

When Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:32

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:43-44

If you’ve never read the Biblical account of Lazarus (or it’s been a while), grab a cup of coffee, open your Bible to John 11, and prepare for emotional whiplash. And questions. Lots of questions, and possibly a whole new perspective on the “dead” things of your life.

Let’s take a look at the cliff-note version. Jesus, given news that a friend, whom He loved, was near death, chose to wait two days before even beginning the long journey to see him. In fact, the Word tells us that because of Jesus’ love, He purposefully waited. Waited while the sisters, who had sent word of the illness, longed for a miracle. Waited until death had occurred. Waited. Until there was no hope. At all.

Only when the situation was a complete impossibility, did Jesus show up on the scene.

On the outskirts of the city, Jesus was met with the heart wrenching, I-can-feel-your-pain guttural cry by Martha, “Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” The other sister, Mary, uttered the exact words, guttural ache and all…. Can’t you just feel the pain reverberating from their question?

In their pain, it never occurred to them, even for a moment, that this Jesus, whom they sought in order to bring healing for their brother, would instead, raise him from the dead. That He would allow such tragedy as a vehicle to bring such glory. That He would risk being misunderstood and misjudged as uncaring, in order to grant them the gift of seeing God’s miraculous power first hand. On their behalf.  To be shared for all time – to encourage others in their “dead” and impossible circumstances.

Truly, I don’t know what has “died” in your life or how impossible it looks right now. But He knows. Has a marriage or a dream or a relationship died? Has a literal death occurred and your hopes for the future died as well? Maybe, like these two sisters, you’ve cried through tears, “Lord if You had been here.” Maybe you’ve reacted by turning your back on the One who loves you, hardening your heart as you’ve secretly cried, “Lord, how could You?” 

No judgement call here, I’ve done it myself a time or two or ten… I cried out as I buried two children and as I struggled through other chasm deep trials – some of my own making and some not…But in the end, I clearly see how He has faithfully used my pain, or done the impossible by bringing life out of a “dead” situation in my life as He walks me through it. Learning firsthand that if He has allowed “it”, He has a purpose and a plan for it and I can trust Him. And so can you dear one. So can you…

“If it is to be a great miracle, the condition is not difficulty, but impossibility.”

Streams in the Desert  10/14

Oh Father, I admit that I have thought, even if left unspoken, the words – “If You had been here…” I am ashamed at my lack of trust in You Father. When difficulties happen, what makes me think that You don’t have a plan? That You have lost control? That You can’t bring life from what has “died”? You are good and You are faithful…and You are for me… I love you. In Jesus name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus