John 11:6  “So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, . . .” (NIV)

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Have you ever been disappointed with Jesus? 

It’s okay to say so. Nobody’s listening. 

I’m pretty sure we have all been disappointed with Jesus at one time or another. I remember a couple of occasions where I had some rather hard things to say to Jesus. I even used words that shouldn’t be spoken in polite company. 

This chapter is one long record of disappointment with Jesus. The disappointment begins here in this verse. When Jesus learned that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. The Healer stayed away. The Doctor kept his distance. The Master neglected his servants. 

Then Jesus disappointed his disciples. He said, “Let’s go back.” They said, “Those people there tried to kill you just a couple of days ago.” Jesus kept walking. Thomas played the part of Eeyore perfectly when he said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” 

Is there anything more disappointing than going to an unnecessary death? 

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived- well, where Lazarus used to live- he was dead now, you know, Martha expressed her disappointment. She said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 

Ouch.

Mary likewise expressed her disappointment in almost exactly the same words. It’s as if the sisters had talked about this. It sounds almost like they had rehearsed it. She said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 

More disappointment. 

Then the whole crowd got involved. Verse 37 says, “but some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’” 

Disappointment indeed. What good are eyes that see if they are so soon going to close in death? 

Now, let’s be honest: Who could be disappointed with what happened next? Lazarus was raised from the dead. This doesn’t happen every day. This guy had been in the grave for four days! An old superstition said that a person’s spirit lingered for three days before departing for whatever was next. This was beyond that. And now a dead man walked out of his grave at Jesus’ command. 

Who could be disappointed with that? 

If you’ve read this chapter, and I’m assuming you have, you know what happens next. The Jewish leaders were incensed. Verse 53 gives us a powerful summary statement: “From that day on, they plotted to take his life.” 

Somehow, they were disappointed with Jesus. 

In retrospect, this seems somewhat foolish. You’re going to try to kill the man who has the power of life and death? In verse 25, Jesus said, “I Am the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” This begs the question: How are you going to kill the source of life?

Kill Jesus all you want. He’s not going to stay dead. He is the Resurrection and the Life. 

I guess at one time or another, Jesus disappoints everyone. Just remember that one of the best days of human history was the day when so many different people were disappointed before they were delighted. 

This old world may be hard. It may feel like hell. Some days you may wonder why you are here. Some days you may wonder if you want to stay here. Just remember, Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, and as he said at the beginning of this chapter, “This sickness will not end in death.” 

The end of our stories is not a cemetery plot, but the ultimate happy ending. 

Save yourself the disappointment of expecting something else. 

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I will put my faith in Jesus, who is the Resurrection and the Life.

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Our Father, life can be really hard. It is full of disappointments and challenges. It punches us in the face far too regularly. Other days it punches us in the gut and leaves us with a sick feeling that endures far too long. Sometimes we go through seasons of sickness or grief where we simply don’t feel like living. Thank you that, beyond our feelings, beyond our grief, beyond our imaginings, and beyond our current reality, you provide life that is full and meaningful here and endures forever. Thank you for redeeming all of our disappointments. Amen.