When God Answers Unanswered Prayers

Intro: The story we see here is a familiar one. But if we only read through verse 6 of the chapter, it would appear that Jesus, though he knew the need, did not want to do anything to help. Verse 5 says that he loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, but verse six says that when he had therefore heard that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was! This seems perplexing! He loved them, and because of that he failed to act upon their request to come in their time of need to heal the very sick man? You see, God has a way of answering, in time, what we believe to be unanswered prayers. We know how he did come through for them, not in the nick of time, but long after time was passed. I want to preach today on this account of Lazarus and his sisters and help us to see how God Answers Unanswered Prayers. Notice:

I. A FEEBLE PERSON: v. 1-3, There was a man sick. (Verse 2 has not happened, 12:3). But now Jesus’ friend was sick. Just because you are a friend to Jesus does not mean sickness and death, sorrow and hardship, trouble and pain won’t come. John 16:33 promised, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” We are not promised a life free from trouble, but we are promised a God bigger than our troubles!
II. A FERVENT PLEA: v. 3, They sent to Jesus. There is a prescription in the Bible for people who are sick. James 5:13-18. As with any prescription, it is important to administer as directed! In this passage, they sent for Jesus.
A. This means there was a messenger. The messenger has no name. He receives no great medal for his labor. He is not even mentioned, but without him none of the rest of the story is possible. He saw the pain of Lazarus, the pressure the sisters were under, and the magnitude of the situation, and he said to them, “Just hang on, I will go get Jesus, and everything is going to be okay.” He knew Jesus. He knew how to get to Jesus. He was certain Jesus would help. He had certainly called on Jesus before! I want to be this kind of messenger!
B. Jesus heard the messenger, but he also heard the sisters! He heard the whispers by the bedside. He heard the tears. He heard the feelings that could only be uttered in the heart. He heard the breaking of their hearts that could not be put into words! He heard the doubt and frustration of the sisters and felt the pain of Lazarus. You may not be able to see him in the fog of your storm, but he sees you, hears you, and feels the same pain you know!
III. A FAILED PRAYER? v. 4, It seems like Jesus understands the situation and has already purposed to take care of everything, but v. 6 seems almost like he has forgotten or does not understand the urgency of the situation! Had their prayers simply been ignored by God? Had he just chosen not to answer? As they watched their brother die, they must have thought that they had prayed an unanswered prayer. But Jesus does understand, and he has not forgotten! He has a way of answering unanswered prayers!
IV. A FRIEND POSTPONED: v. 11-17 show us how Jesus was delayed. By the time Jesus comes to Bethany, Lazarus was in “the grave” four days already! Notice v. 39 the word “dead” is italicized. Italicized words were added to the KJV by the translators for clarity in reading or grammar. It means that this was NOT in the original manuscripts. DO NOT LET THIS GIVE YOU ANY DOUBT ABOUT YOUR KING JAMES BIBLES. It should give you confidence, rather. The translators let us know where the language had to be enhanced by them in order for the language to read in such a way to flow. We know, however, from verse 17, that Lazarus had been in the GRAVE for four days. He may have been dead even longer! The fact is, they had been waiting on Jesus to get there for a long time! But remember, he may not come when you call him, but he will be right on time! Sometimes he is greatly delayed, but he comes in his time, for his glory, and works things for our good!
V. A FLAWED PREMISE: v. 21, Martha accuses our Lord falsely of failing her. In v. 32, Mary does the same! They were actually right in a way, but in truth, Jesus was there. He missed NOTHING! He was there when they sat up late at night, when they wiped his fevered brow, when they wept and asked God why, when they thought that Jesus had failed them; he was there for it all! Also, notice that they both said the same thing, but they did so in very different ways. Martha was in Jesus’ face, but Mary was at his feet! Still our Lord was gracious to them.
VI. THE FINAL PROCLAMATION: v. 43-44, The result was a move of God that this family could have never imagined! What they thought was an unanswered prayer turned into an unmatched miracle! Jesus answers unanswered prayers!
Conclusion: Isn’t it remarkable that Martha prayed. Mary prayed. Surely the disciples, when they heard Lazarus was sick, prayed for him. Lazarus likely prayed earnestly. Still, NOTHING HAPPENED. But Jesus stepped on the scene and in v. 41-42, Jesus prayed! And business picked up! We could surely count that all our prayers would go unanswered were it not for an advocate, a mediator, a daysman that carries our needs to the Father. But I’m glad that when Jesus prays for us, God answers unanswered prayers!

Heb 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

I Tim 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Rom 8:26-28 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”