John 11:17-23The Message (MSG)
When Jesus finally got there, he found Lazarus already four days dead. Bethany was near Jerusalem, only a couple of miles away, and many of the Jews were visiting Martha and Mary, sympathizing with them over their brother. Martha heard Jesus was coming and went out to meet him. Mary remained in the house.
Martha said, “Master, if you’d been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you.”
Jesus said, “Your brother will be raised up.”
When Jesus finally got there, he found Lazarus already four days dead. Bethany was near Jerusalem, only a couple of miles away, and many of the Jews were visiting Martha and Mary, sympathizing with them over their brother. Martha heard Jesus was coming and went out to meet him. Mary remained in the house.
Martha said, “Master, if you’d been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you.”
Jesus said, “Your brother will be raised up.”
The last time we saw Mary and Martha, there was a squabble about who should be helping prepare the house for company. There was much to be done, food to be prepared and one of the sisters was tired from all the work while the other seemed to be relaxing in the main room.
Today it is Martha who is front and center and Mary who is back in the house - perhaps Mary is having some quiet time remembering her beloved brother or maybe staying with those who came to mourn his passing. Both these women, these sisters of Lazarus, loved and respected Jesus. They know who He was and they understood His power and relationship with Father God.
This story is all about timing. God's plan was carried out to perfection. His timing, though questioned by faithful followers, proves perfect and necessary. There are a couple of noteworthy happenings here.
First, Jesus didn't need to be at Lazarus's side to heal him. “Master, if you'd been here, my brother wouldn't have died." Jesus could have healed His friend on the spot, in the instance He knew of the illness. Which, of course, was before even Lazarus first experienced any symptoms.
Second, even though Martha knew of the power of Jesus, she grasped who He was, it seemed she thought He arrived too late to do anything. Did she really understand?
Do we truly understand and believe when it comes to our loved ones? Do we know God only has our best in mind; He only wants good for us? Can we even come close to believing in God's timing being perfect?
Faith...only faith can comfort those who mourn. Only belief in God, believing He is who He says He is, can give us what we need to get through the disaster’s in life.
No comments:
Post a Comment