John 11:1-16 | Why Does God Delay? - Jonny Ardavanis

In John 11, we step into a scene filled with grief, confusion, and what seems like divine delay. Lazarus is sick. His sisters are desperate. And yet… Jesus waits.

Why?

This message explores the purpose behind Jesus’ pause—and how God’s delays are never wasted. We look at the rising tension in Jesus’ ministry, His deep love for a hurting family, and His sovereign timing in the middle of crisis.

What looks like silence is actually strategy. What feels like absence is full of purpose.

Jesus didn’t delay because He didn’t care. He delayed because He loved.

📖 Key Verses: John 11:1–16

In this passage, we discover that God often allows delay to produce:

1. A deeper sense of His glory — so we see His greatness in ways we never could on our own.

2. A deepened faith — the kind that learns to trust when it doesn’t understand.

3. A deeper love for God — born not just in blessings, but in brokenness.

4. An increased joy — joy that comes not in spite of the wait, but because of it.

Whether you’re walking through silence, waiting for breakthrough, or struggling to understand why God hasn’t moved yet—this message is for you. Because the Jesus who waits is the same Jesus who weeps… and the same Jesus who still brings life out of loss.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

01:28 - Setting the Scene

04:06 - Scripture Text

13:00 - A deeper sense for the glory of God

16:18 - A deepened faith

23:38 - a deepened love for God

25:24 - An increased joy

37:48- Closing thoughts

39:38 - Prayer