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A Powerful Yet Compassionate God
Contributed by Rev Silvester David on Jul 2, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: We believe in a powerful God who is also filled with compassion. He does all things for His glory! His compassion draws us closer to Him.
We have started this year with dedicating ourselves to grow in the knowledge of our God. This growing journey is a lifetime process. We need to keep learning, keep experiencing and keep trusting Him in this process.
John 11 records a beautiful story of a family which was close to Jesus during His earthly life – the family of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. In this story we can learn some important things about our God.
John 11:1-3 – Lazarus was seriously ill; the sisters has sent the news to Jesus so that He can come and heal Lazarus. They believed in the Deity of Christ and knew He has authority over everything and He alone is able to heal and save Lazarus at that point of time.
But interestingly, despite seeing their faith, Jesus purposely delayed his visitation – vs 4-6.
There was no sense of urgency in Jesus’ response – why? Psalm 115:3
1.God does everything for His glory and in His time. No man can influence God! No circumstances can push God to do things for humankind! We need to understand that. Yes! We need faith. Faith moves God’s hand and pleases God! But nothing can force Him to do anything because HE is God and HE does what pleases Him in His time.
Vs. 4 tell us God’s intention for the delay.
You may ask how does the delay glorify God?
Vs. 7-8 explains! Cf John 10:30-31 – Judea was the region that Jesus and His Disciples flee from due to a strong opposition. The Jews there wanted to stone Him because they were not able to accept his teachings in John 10 (they claim blasphemy when Jesus taught that He and the Father are one) . Now, Jesus delay 2 days and purposely allowed Lazarus to die so that He can go back there and raise Lazarus from death. The Pharisee influenced the people to opposed Him as a false teacher and provoked the people to stone HIM. But now, by raising a dead man JESUS proves HIS teaching to be true – HE and the Father is one (John 10:30); so, Jesus has the authority to give life for everyone just as the Father does .
God does everything for HIS glory! The resurrection of Lazarus has got nothing to do with Lazarus and the faith of his sisters – but it’s all about God revealing His splendour and glory to the people in Judea. Vs. 25-26.
2. Vs. 28-35 – The Compassionate heart of God
Despite knowing for sure that He is going to raise Lazarus from death and by doing that He is going to glorify His own name as the God of creation – Jesus was deeply moved with emotion and became compassionate and teared when he saw Mary and the rest of them crying.
Our God is a compassionate Father. Isaiah 49:13; Lamentation 3:32; Psalm 103:13
He has feelings! He is compassionate when His people suffer pain, lost and being inflicted by any negativity. 1 Peter 5:7 – you can cast all your burdens on HIM – He cares for you. Jesus also said Matthew 11:28 – “come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”
3. Faith will enable us to see HIS Glory (vs. 38-45)
Often time we are taught that we need to have faith to receive a miracle in life. So, our faith has become miracle based. I want a miracle, so I trade it with having faith in the miracle worker (Jesus Christ). I belief this is a total misconception by everyone.
Jesus clearly taught here in verse 40; “……if you believe you would see the glory of God”.
Jesus is simply teaching Martha and everyone who was present there by the tomb that by having faith in HIM you will see God’s glory revealed. When GOD’S glory is revealed miracle is inevitable! Hebrew 11:6.