Father Knows Best: Two Things That God knows that I cannot
Feeling Happy! We like that feeling. The satisfaction of a happy ending held my interest for thirty minutes every day after school as I watched reruns of Father Knows Best. In this outdated, black and white, slow-to-no-action, family drama, the dad always knew what his kids should do. If only life was that painless.
With the goals of health, prosperity, and happiness for their children, many parents insulate their offspring from painful circumstances. But the Heavenly Father allows pain for our good.
The Bible confronts me with the reality that my lifespan looks like a thirty-minute, black and white TV show compared to eternity—a full color, High Definition, endless satellite buffet of programming. However, the Bible also tells me I do have a Father who knows best. I need to learn to trust Him even when things aren’t working out the way I want, even when life hurts. My Heavenly Father places a higher priority on teaching me about His joy than me feeling happy all the time.
In John chapter eleven—the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead—I find the assurance that God knows more than I do.
- My Father is the One and Only Time Lord
The story begins with Lazarus being seriously ill. His sisters don’t know what else to do for him, so they send word to Jesus. Lazarus needs healing now! We know Jesus was close with this family because Bible tells us “Jesus loved” them. So, I ask, what would I do if I were Jesus? I’d drop everything and rush to Bethany to heal Lazarus. Isn’t that what you would do if your close friend lay dying? That’s what makes the following statement in this account so astounding. “So, when He heard that he was sick, Jesus stayed two more days in the place where He was” (John 11:6). He let Lazarus die!
Finally, He arrives in Bethany and witnesses the grief His delay caused. Mary and Martha suffered the agony of watching their brother die. They felt abandoned by the Lord in their time of need. They were no doubt confused and hurt by His “late” arrival. Jesus hurt too. The shortest verse in all of the Scripture, “Jesus wept.” (John 11: 35), reveals their loss deeply touched him, So why the delay?!
From Mary and Martha’s perspectives, Jesus showed up too late. The reality is God is never tardy. He is the Father of time, the actual time Lord of all time. Unlike Dr. Who, who must travel to different times, God made time; He exists in it, all of it. Past, present, and future—God is there. The Lord sees the beginning and the end. He is the First and the Last. He tarries on purpose because He knows when is best. Our now is not His when. Therefore, we must learn to wait for Him.
- My Father Knows My Real Need
Pressing circumstances and emotions cloud our perception. We lack the clarity to discern real needs from perceived ones. Our Heavenly Father does not. Mary and Martha believed their brother, Lazarus, needed healing; they thought they needed him alive. Jesus knew they needed proof of His resurrection power. By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus galvanizes their faith for the trials ahead. Trials form patience in us like nothing else can (James 1:2-3). The joy James speaks of is the joy that our Father, who loves us as we are, loves us too much to leave us that way (in sinful unbelief).
Jesus wasn’t concerned about giving Lazarus a little more time on earth. Lazarus was safe with the Father. Instead, Jesus cared about growing the faith of all saints from that time forward. More than a brother, Mary and Martha (and the rest of us) need to see eternal life is now. Their faith needed perfecting. Martha confesses her hope in a future resurrection. She knew someday her brother would live again. Jesus declares, “I AM the resurrection and the life.” Today is that day.
Jesus clarified Martha’s vague idea of the resurrection. Eternal life and resurrection power impact our present reality with sure hope. We have passed from death to life. We have eternal life. Now! Today Jesus is the resurrection. Jesus never said, “I will be.” He said, “I AM.”
The Time Lord knew the persecution those saints would soon endure. He knew they needed an enduring faith. By raising Lazarus, Jesus provided proof of life. He assured His disciples that “whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:26).
I wonder how Lazarus felt about that lesson? Can you imagine being in the Father’s arms, in His perfect heavenly abode—without sin, pain, or death—then coming back here? Imagine the courage that gave all of them to endure persecution.
Like Mary and Martha, there are times I feel God is late. I feel confused and hurt because what I think I need is not what I really need. Yet, their story assures me that God, who knows my future, prepares me today for that Day. Our Father knows best.