Title: Thoughts of Jesus, My Thoughts
Contents
If you look at the text, things that are difficult to understand are recorded. Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary. The news came to Jesus that Lazarus, whom he loved, had fallen ill. Hearing this news, Jesus must immediately get up and go to Lazarus, but the nuance of the text seems to indicate that Jesus did not go there on purpose. Rather, he delays the time and stays for two more days. The brothers believed that if it was the power of Jesus, they would be healed if they could come and pray when their brother became seriously ill. But Jesus delayed, and Lazarus eventually died.
What we realize here is that our thoughts and the thoughts of Jesus are different. Our plan and Jesus' plan are different. This is where faith and non-belief separate. Unbelief is asking me to align my thoughts with the Lord's thoughts. Faith, on the other hand, is incomprehensible and difficult to accept, but it is fitting me into the thoughts of the Lord. Should the thoughts of the Lord be adjusted or should my thoughts be adjusted?
How do we “Lord, I cannot change my mind. I can't change my goals, my dreams. Please change your mind. Adjust your thoughts to me.” Following the Lord's thoughts seems tedious and seems to be wrong. Nevertheless, it is faith to align my thoughts with the Lord. This is something only people who have faith can do. Without faith, nothing can be done.
In many cases, we are told to set everything according to our own will and follow the Lord. Please follow me and do what I have asked you to do. After setting everything up according to my plans and thoughts, I said, “God, you must make it this way. Never touch my thoughts. You must make my dreams come true.” - That's what I demand. We ask for everything according to our desires, and then pray again when things don't go well. “God, I was faithful, so why are you doing this to me? Why don’t you bless me and make it hard for me?” They are tempted by God and disappointed by God. Why? This is because, from the beginning, I had no desire to follow the will of the Lord at all, and I was only interested in accomplishing my will.
Lazarus died. Or maybe Jesus was waiting for Lazarus to die. Is it a greater power to heal the sick or a greater power to raise the dead? needless to say The Lord was waiting for God's timing. After waiting until he said, “It’s over,” he appeared and raised Lazarus, clearly showing that Jesus alone is the Lord of life.
For Jesus, it is no different from two days ago or after. It doesn't matter if the person is sick or dead. To Almighty God, a cold or cancer is nothing but the same disease. What matters to him is timing, not ability. The Lord is already without limit in his power. It's just a matter of timing when you use that ability.
What is your Lazarus? It must not be without it, but what is the precious thing that has suddenly left us? The important thing is that only Jesus is there. Because there is nothing impossible for Jesus to do.