“Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.””
‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭20‬-‭21‬, ‭25‬-‭28‬ ‭NASB1995

This morning’s reading was on the portion where the Lord delays in going to Bethany when Lazarus gets sick and his sisters send word to the Lord Jesus to come quickly.

Well, when Jesus tells the disciples that He wants to go to Judea when the Jews were intending to kill Him, the disciples were confused. When Jesus says that Lazarus is dead, Thomas states sarcastically that they’ll be dead like Lazarus if to Judea they go.

Meanwhile, in Bethany, Martha and Mary bury their dead brother and Jesus and the disciples are a no-show. Suddenly, word gets to the sisters that Jesus has come. In the face of grief and utter disappointment, Martha comes to the Lord Jesus. She is one of the few people to ever declare directly to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He comes into the world.” (vs. 27) This is her response to the Lord as He states, “I am the resurrection and the life.” This word strengthens Martha’s faith enough to get her to stir up her sister Mary’s heart. And in turn, faith gets Mary to get up quickly and come to Jesus where she fall at His feet. Mary is recorded at being at Jesus’ feet each time, it seems. What a place for us all.

The Lord lets us get disappointed sometimes. I believe these sisters were shattered. If only Jesus had been there, Lazarus would have lived. But God intended to glorify the Son and the Son intended to glorify the Father by doing the impossible.

Even when there is no reason to hope, we can trust His love for us and He power to do the impossible. And His word strengthens our faith if we would allow it.

I think we’ve all experienced being shattered when it appears that God did not come through for us. Probably more than once. Maybe we are still in a season of disappointment even now. Would you accept me as Martha to your Mary heart and receive this word that our Lord is calling for you.

He is Resurrection and the Life today. Right now. Since we cannot run physically like Mary did to Jesus, we can in our heart turn to Him from our disappointment and say, “Here I am” to the Great I am.

Lord God, you know our hearts. There is nothing hidden from Your eyes. We admit we are disheartened and disappointed and You already know that. And we admit that we cannot see how You will raise the already stinking dead. But we would like to have a part in You being glorified. We would like You to turn our mourning into dancing for Your name’s sake. Thank You for being God who calls into being that which was not. And even dry dead bones are no match for Your words of eternal life. Speak resurrection over our dead situations. Call forth Lazarus out of the tomb! We believe You are Resurrection and You are Life! Today! In Jesus’ wondrous name.