DCLM Daily Manna Monday 25 June 2024
TOPIC: God Is Never Late
TEXT: John 11:18-32 (KJV)
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
KEY VERSE
“Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.”
John 11:23
DCLM Daily Manna 25 June 2024 MESSAGE
An anonymous author once wrote, “God is not late to events. He also does not come too early. He is always at the right time because His timing is perfect. He does not calculate as men do, but His decisions are based on what is best at His right time”.
In today’s passage, Jesus was not in a hurry to go to Bethany and check on His friend, even though He had been informed that Lazarus was sick. He knew that the “sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby”. Incidentally, Lazarus died while Jesus was still far away.
READ DCLM Daily Manna Monday 24 June 2024 – Depravity at Work
Martha, one of the sisters of Lazarus, knew that Jesus could raise her brother but was not sure how that would happen. Even when Jesus assured her that Lazarus would live again, her thoughts went to the resurrection on the last day. However, Jesus was telling her what He would do at that very moment. Christ used the occasion to tell her and others that He was the resurrection and the life.
The uniform confession of Martha and Mary, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died,” was an insinuation that Christ arrived too late. But the Lord is never late for any situation. Jesus delayed His going for two days because He knew He would be glorified through the miracle. Four days in the grave was enough time to confirm Lazarus’ death. Often, God begins to work when we come to the end of our wits.
Are you going through any challenging situation and have lost hope? Are you troubled by an ailment or a perplexing situation? Have people given up on you? Rest assured, the Lord will not come late. He raised Lazarus who was dead for four days. You will come out of the hopeless situation.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God’s timing is perfect.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Zachariah 1-5
