Jesus' friends call to him for help in a time of serious need - and he waits. He delays. He doesn't come right away. And it seems to cost his friend's life. Why would he do that? The answer he gives is even more aggravating: "I'm glad I wasn't there for your sake, so that you may believe." How do we deal with a God like that, especially when it feels like he fails to show up at the time of our greatest need?
Discussion Questions:
Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t just show up and do something about the situation you’re facing? How’d you come out of that moment; more critical or more confident in God?
We hear that Jesus is always with us, ready to hold us and care for us, but sometimes we are left asking “Why doesn’t God do something about THAT?”
Whatever that is - a situation at home or work, a broken relationship, someone’s health, salvation of a family member or friend, etc. Why doesn’t God just do something? Does his failure to act on our terms mean he is inactive? If not, why is that answer still so dissatisfying for us?
Mary and Martha both say: "If you'd have been here, he wouldn't have died" (v.21, 32). The crowd even says "could not he who opened the eyes of the blind kept this man from dying?" (v.37) They clearly believe Jesus is capable of great things. But how is their belief somehow deficient or limited? Were they hoping too much or too little of Jesus? How do we do the same?
Jesus says "for your sake I am glad I wasn't there, so that you might believe." But John told us the disciples already believed in him after the miracle at the wedding of Cana (John 2:11). The verb tense here actually means "come to believe" (as in, 'believe more deeply than before' or ‘come to a new level of belief’). How does the waiting cause them to believe more deeply than before? How might that be true for us? Does waiting without (immediate) explanation deepen your trust or break it?
Some people are atheists because of this topic (i.e., There’s no way someone is out there who cares… It’s all chance… Clearly, nobody is in control!). How do you avoid the opposite extremes of gullible passivity (i.e., fatalism, "God is in control; I do nothing") or jaded cynicism (i.e., "God didn't show up when I needed him")?
Get specific: Where does this theme of waiting on God have you losing faith and trust in him? What behavior, action, and steps do you need to reverse in terms of trusting God’s timing, power, and goodness more than you are now?
What did you need to hear in the sermon or during this discussion?
