With Jesus it’s never too Late
Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that
whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” (John 11:21-23)
Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had
been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). How many of us have uttered the very same words,
“Lord, if you had only come sooner such-n-such would not have happened!” However, the truth is, with Jesus it’s
never too late!
This seventh and final miracle recorded in the Gospel of John has been called the ‘supreme miracle’ of
Jesus. John’s Gospel is a study of the mastery and creativity of Jesus as He performs miracles in order to
demonstrate (and authenticate) His divinity. Let’s review…
•
In chapter 2 – Jesus turns the water into wine by His spoken Word.
•
In chapter 4 – by faith Jesus healed the nobleman’s son.
•
In chapter 5 – at the Pool of Bethesda, and in defiance of the Sabbath-keepers, Jesus healed the
man who had an infirmity for 38 years.
•
In chapter 6 – on a hill near the Sea of Galilee and He fed 5000 with five barley loaves and two small
fish.
•
In the same chapter – He came to the rescue of His own disciples, walking on water and stilling raging
seas.
•
In chapter 9 – as the Light of the World, He opened the eyes of one who was born blind.
•
Finally, here in chapter 11 – Jesus gives life back to a dead friend so that He can prove His claim of
being the Resurrection and the Life for all of mankind.
The miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead is regarded as the supreme “sign.” Unlike other signs and wonders,
where the cooperation or active faith of others was involved, in this incident the Lord Jesus is solely and sovereignly
in charge - from start to finish! This final sign in John’s Gospel, is pivotal. Why? Because it ventures into the area of
life that we fear the most and know the least about; our death (our mortality). From the onset, this story about a friend
who has died and a family that Jesus loved so dearly is filled with a sense of desperation and hopelessness.
Everything about it speaks of our helplessness over sickness and death. In every respect, this touching story sends
out the same message, “It’s too late.” The Lord’s delay in returning to Bethany said, “It’s too late.” His statement
to His disciples that Lazarus is dead pronounced, “It’s too late.” Martha and Mary’s despair over Jesus not coming
sooner confirms that they both thought, “It’s too late.” Yes, they all repeated the same message of hopelessness
and anguish... “It’s too late!” Today however, as we examine this awesome miracle I want to reassure you that,
“With Jesus It’s Never Too Late.”
1.
It’s never too late for the Lord’s postponement.
Even when you experience a serious ‘delay in life’, and it appears that time has run out, you need to remind
yourself that it’s “Never Too Late With Jesus.” John, the writer of this Gospel account, takes great care to
reassure us that the Lord’s delay is not a careless or thoughtless act. John preceded the report of Christ’s delay
with these words (verse 5), “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.” So it was not because of a
lack of concern for the magnitude of the crisis, or what was at stake, that Jesus delayed His return to Bethany.
No, the Lord’s delay was because of His love! There are probably people here today who are waiting on God to
move – on the Lord to do something mighty on your behalf. You need to remember this, it’s not too late!
John clearly expresses the love and affection that Jesus has for this family. He enjoyed spending time with them.
Yet, it’s because He loved these two sisters, Martha and Mary, that Jesus wanted to strengthen their faith (using
this crisis). It may appear odd to us, but Jesus knew that there was no better way of strengthen their faith than by
allowing their brother to die, and lie in a tomb for 4 days, and then resurrecting him. If the Lord had hurried to
Lazarus’ side and healed him before he died, their faith may have increased. But would this increase be to the
degree that Jesus had in mind? Absolutely not! Jesus knew exactly what was necessary for these sisters (whom
He loved dearly) to move to the next level in the arena of faith! Listen to the Lord’s own words, “And I am glad for
your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him” (verse 15).
There may be times in our lives when the Lord wants to increase and strengthen our faith, and during these
periods He way choose to use tragic circumstances. In the case of this family He chose the very thing they all
feared most - death. But at the same time, Jesus was trying to prove a significant and important point... That He
is the Resurrection and the Life! Even if He postpones His arrival, it is never too late! So if you’re still “waiting on
the Lord,” it just might be that He’s allowing your situation to ripen enough for a ‘supreme miracle’. Notice, Jesus
timed His arrival at Lazarus’ home on the fourth day after His death. The intent of the Lord’s delay was to
demonstrate that regardless of how much time it takes, or how much it exasperates the crisis, or the distance that
must be covered, it’s “Never Too Late With Jesus.”
In verse 40, when the Lord is questioned about His actions by Martha He says to her, “Did I not say to you that if
you would believe you would see the glory of God?” In your delayed circumstances do you believe?
2.
It’s never too late for those in despair.
Verses 21 and 22 read, Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Martha’s words revealed her faith in the
resurrection, but it also exposed a pitiful faith in a “right now” God. She was like many of us today. We have a
“someday faith,” instead of a “right now faith.” A “someday faith” says, “one of these days I’m gonna get my
healing or my blessing.” But a “right now” faith says, “I am healed, I am blessed – right now!” It doesn’t take
much faith to place your hope in the future. However, it takes a whole lot of faith to say, “In spite of my difficulties,
I’m blessed anyhow! Despite my sickness or disease, I am already healed! In spite of these tragic
circumstances, God is still good – all the time!” Although Martha knew that one day there would be a resurrection
from the dead, she didn’t believe that Jesus could help her at that very moment. In her current circumstances!
Can you hear Jesus saying to her, “Martha, you are waiting for a resurrection, but don’t you know that I am the
Resurrection and the Life?” Martha was soon to discover that her despair would be short-lived. Even though
Jesus delayed His arrival; even though her brother Lazarus was already dead; and although she and her sister
were in deep despair and anguish - because Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life they found out that, “it’s
never too late to trust God for a miracle.” If you are exasperated by your situation and you feel totally helpless, I
can assure you that it’s never too late to trust God for your miracle. We serve a God who gives life to the dead
and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. A God with Whom nothing is impossible! A God that
holds all the universe together by the Word of His power! Your supreme miracle is nothing for God.
3.
It’s never too late for a divine and dramatic demonstration.
Finally, let’s examine the dramatic demonstration of Christ’s power. Why a demonstration? Because this entire
incident takes place for the glory of God. That’s why Jesus delayed His return to Bethany; so that the crowd of
mourners from Bethany and nearby Jerusalem would witness this ‘supreme’ miracle. That’s why Jesus prayed
aloud in public. So that the crowd of unbelieving bystanders could be convinced of the Father’s approval of His
Son (and His claim of deity). And that is why Jesus spoke to the dead Lazarus in a loud voice. His loud voice
was not for the benefit of Lazarus, but for the onlookers. All of this was done to demonstrate (in a very dramatic
fashion) that Jesus is the Lord of all Life. Everything in heaven, on earth and under the earth comes under His
Lordship.
In spite of protests and concerns that by now the body of Lazarus had surely begun to decay and stink, Jesus
commanded the crowd to roll the stone away. Verse 43 reads: Now when He had said these things, He cried with a
loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And notice that Lazarus obeyed His Master’s voice! And he who had died came
out bound hand and foot with grave-clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him,
and let him go.” When the Master speaks, even dead things obey! In fact He doesn’t even have to be present! Psalm
107:20 says, “He sent forth His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”
As with the other miracles recorded in the Bible, there is more to this than meets the eye. The resurrection of
Lazarus was accomplished by the power and the enablement of Jesus Christ. By this I mean that when He raised
Lazarus from the grave, Jesus also dealt with the physical aspects of resurrecting a body that had been dead for four
days.
Flesh that had begun to decay was regenerated; brain cells that had been destroyed by a lack of oxygen were
brought back to life; muscles that had been paralysed by rigor mortis were rejuvenated; and coagulated blood
had began to flow again (spreading life throughout the body of Lazarus). Jesus ‘dramatically demonstrated’ His
power over life, death and the grave! He demonstrated that even though Lazarus’ body had began to decay,
even though brain cells had been destroyed, rigor mortis had set in, and his life-giving blood had began to clot,
nevertheless, “it’s never too late with Jesus!”
So be rest assured.. Before the final resurrection comes (the occasion that Martha was talking about), God has
some resurrections to perform in your life. It’s not too late for your marriage; it’s not too late for your healing; it’s not
too late for your career or your finances - it’s never too late with Jesus! Despite the long delays, the Lord want’s to
say to you, “Don’t despair. For that which you thought was dead, will be resurrected!” Doctors may have said it is “too
late”; all of the studies, surveys and statistics may have indicated that it is “too late”; your family may have taken a
view that it is “too late”; your friends may have given up because they think it is “too late.” Even you, yourself, may
have thought of conceding defeat because everyone told you that it is “too late!” And for whatever reason, you are
tempted to believe others when they say, “It is now - far too late!” There’s a lovely quote I heard recently, and it
simply said, “It's never too soon and it's never too late.”
Back to John 11:1-27... Jesus may have come late in everyone else’s timeframe, but this ‘supreme miracle’
speaks as loudly to us today as it did when He visited a family He loved so dearly:
IT’S NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, TOO LATE WITH JESUS.
•
No matter how seemingly endless the delay;
•
No matter how deep the despair;
•
No matter how long your situation has been dead.
Jesus can demonstrate His power in dramatic fashion.
He wants’ to perform a resurrection in your life - today!
WITH JESUS, IT’S NEVER EVER TOO LATE!