In the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44), we can see the way of believers believe that had adorned the life of the church, which turned out to be the wrong ways of believing. Let’s learn how Jesus believe:
1. Believing in the way of “traumas of the past.”
His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? (John 11:8).
Here are how the disciples believed. When Jesus invited them to go to heal Lazarus, they were hindered by what had happened in the past. Here’s how most believers believe. When they wished to act on what they believed, they were always hindered by traumas of the past, so in the end, they did not take any action, and no wonder they would never see the results of their beliefs.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (James 2:26).
2. Believing in the way of “the end times.”
Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day (John 11:23-24).
Many people have a way to believe like this, when asked: “Do you believe you can live free from struggle?” They would answer: “Yes, I know that I will be free from the struggle when I go to Heaven!” What about now? Impossible! They believe all the good will come to their lives after the world ends. But now, they feel all is impossible for them.
3. Believing in the way of “if.”
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died (John 11:21).
Then when Mary came 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 (John 11:32).
This way of believing is also much loved by believers. They believe in the limitation that they have created themselves. Martha and Mary believed that Lazarus would have not die, if Jesus had been there, if Jesus had not come too late. So they threw all the blames to Jesus for the death of Lazarus.
We often use this way of believing. We limit God with a variety of conditions.
“If the problem had not been as heavy as this, I would have believed God would be able to help me, but now, it’s too late!”
“If I have known the Lord when my illness had not been this bad, I would have believed that God would cure me. But now? It’s impossible!”
“If I had had another source of income, perhaps God would have helped me from these financial problems!”
The three ways to believe above are the wrong ways to believe. Let us learn from Jesus how to believe correctly:
1. Believing in the way of “can’t be shaken.”
When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby (John 11:4).
Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already (John 11:17).
Jesus believed that the glory of God would be declared and Lazarus would not die. But the fact was, when Jesus came, Lazarus had been dead for four days. But He still held on to what He believed. He was not defeated by the facts, He continued to proceed with confidence, and we know the end of the story: The fact was defeated by His beliefs.
What He believed happened and the facts changed: The dead Lazarus was raised from the dead! And God was glorified!
We often trust something from His Word, but after seeing the facts that do not align with what we believe, we retreat, we are defeated by the facts. We throw away what we believe from His Word and begin to trust the facts.
In fact, if we hold on to what we believe from His Word, faith will prevail and the facts will change.
If we want to see the results of our faith, we must learn to have a way to believe unshakeably like Jesus. Many times we do not see the results because we stop trusting Him, after we find the fact is opposite to what we believe. Have a firm and unshakable confidence!
2. Believing in the way of “waiting patiently for God’s Time.”
When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was (John 11:6).
Jesus had been waiting patiently for the Father to reveal His glory. Because He believed, He always waited patiently. Many times we are not patient to wait for God’s help, or wait with anxiety for His help. The reason is because we lack in trusting Him.
If we believe, we will always know that He will come just in time. Even though the problem appears to be increasingly complex, we continue to believe He will help us in His time. He makes everything beautiful in His time!
3. Believing in the way of “already and always.”
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me (John 11:41-42).
Jesus believes that when He prays, Father has and always listens. Jesus doesn’t believe that the Father would perform it later and answer His prayer when the world is over.
Here are the way to belief that we should have, namely how Jesus believe. We believe the Father has listened to us and always listens to us. We believe the Father has helped us and always helps us. Amen!
Read also: If You Believe.
