"Jesus’ mode of operation… is to call His friend, His bridal partner, one with whom He has shared the secrets of His heart, to His side.  He has given her the authority to stir His heart to do the work that needs to be done.  He will not do it on Hs own.  He will not do it without His friend.  So when Mary prays… the door is opened, all the power of heaven come to bear upon the issue of the day and resurrection power is released.” – Gary Wiens (adapted)

In a previous letter we looked at strategic delay in the story of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.  Five virgins were wise, and five were foolish.  Five had cultivated oil in their lamps.  The fuel for that oil is our intimate relationship with Jesus and the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Most of us struggle with times of delay.  Through our human eyes it’s hard to wait, and it feels so unnecessary and like such a waste of time.  But God wants to show us the authority of intimacy in two very familiar Bible stories in the life of Mary and Martha.  In Luke 10:42 and John 11:1-44 we see the strategy in delay that leads to authority and resurrection power.

In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus came to visit Martha and Mary in their home.  How would you feel if the living God came to visit you?  As you know in this familiar Bible story, Martha was distracted with all the preparations and Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to what He had to say.  Mary chose to sit at the feet of the living God.  Martha was distracted by all the preparations.  She was doing good things for God, but she was distracted and worried.  She said in verse 40, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”  We can understand her point of view.  After all, Jesus was there and the food had to be prepared.  From Martha’s point of view, it looked foolish or even lazy not to be serving food to Jesus at this time.  She didn’t understand God’s priority. 

But Mary was cultivating intimacy, and Jesus said to Martha in verse 41-42, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” 

So often we can be focused on our ministry instead of sitting at Jesus’ feet.  It’s not that ministry isn’t important.  It’s very important.  But we need to get the oil.  We must put first things first.  We can’t do the second thing first.  Ministry will burn us out, exhaust us, and cause worry and anxiety just as it did in Martha’s life if we don’t have the priority right.  Loving God is the first priority, and then everything else will fall into place.  Ministry can then be done with joy and gladness. 

The second story, recorded in John 11:1-44, is about Mary and Martha and their younger brother Lazarus.  He was very sick, and they called for Jesus to come to Bethany where they lived.  Jesus loved them, but He didn’t come as expected – it was a strategic delay – and He stayed where He was an extra two days.  How would you feel if you were Martha or Mary and your brother was about to die?  You also would probably be anxious for Jesus to come quickly and heal him!  I know I would.     

But Jesus delayed in responding to Mary and Martha when they sent word that Lazarus was sick.  In fact, He stayed a few more days away and did nothing.  The unthinkable happened, and Lazarus died.  Does this delay make any sense?  Jesus could have healed Lazarus but He didn’t.  From our human, common-sense perspective, an immediate intervention would have been perfect.  But instead, the situation looks absolutely hopeless from man’s point of view.  Time had run out.  It was too late!  Lazarus was dead.  This was outside the realm of human possibility.  Even Jesus said to His disciples that Lazarus was dead, and for their sake He was glad He was not there so that they would believe (John 11:14-15).  

Have you been waiting for God to answer some of your prayers, and the answer has not come?  The situation may look hopeless from every human standpoint.  You may feel that it is now far too late.  We have all been there.  Many of us are waiting right now, and the hour seems late.  We hear of rumors of revival and things happening around the world, and we think, “God, we need You here.  We need You now!”  But God seems to wait.  Could this possibly be a strategic delay?  Is he deepening our relationship and level of intimacy for a powerful intervention in the future?  Let’s continue with the story of Lazarus.

Jesus finally went to Bethany and upon His arrival there, he found that Lazarus had been dead for four days.  Martha came out to meet Him, but Mary stayed inside.  She said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Imagine her anguish. 

Jesus comforted her and said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25).