Scripture:

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 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.”

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. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus 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. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:1-16 ESV)

Observation:

Jesus finds out that his friend is dying and waits two whole days before going to help out. That seems contrary to all of our logic, doesn't it? We would go immediately, but God's timing is not our timing and his ways are not our ways. Why? Well, because at the end of the day it isn't about what makes sense, but about God's glory - which is always for our benefit in the long run.

Jesus waited for Lazarus to die because he knew that he would raise him from the dead. Lazarus resurrection would go down in the history books as a death-defeating picture of the power of God. It would be for the benefit of scripture, the benefit of those alive in Jerusalem, the faith expansion of his followers, and for the glory of God. He would proclaim - with boldness - "I am the resurrection and the life! The one who believes in me will NEVER die (John 11:25)!" #MicDrop

Jesus knew what he was doing, even if nobody else did. 

Application:

God does things differently than me, be he knows what he is doing. I need to trust in and obey the one who is the resurrection and the life.

Prayer:

Lord, give me the patience to wait on you, the faith to believe in you, and the power to obey you - even when it doesn't make any sense.