The controversy caused by Jesus healing the blind man (John 9 and 10) led to him needing to leave Jerusalem. The Pharisees and Jewish religious leaders were out to kill him. While outside Jerusalem and across the Jordan, the sisters of his good friend Lazarus, Mary and Martha, sent word that their brother was sick.
Jesus told his disciples that Lazarus’ illness would not end in death, but in glory to God. He waited two more days, then said to his disciples “Let us go back to Judea” (John 11:7 NIV). They remind him of the danger facing him there, but he told them “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up” (John 11:11). They didn’t understand and thought that sleep might help Lazarus. Jesus then “told them plainly ‘Lazarus is dead” (John 11:14) and that they needed to go to him, so that they may believe.
What Martha Said
Martha heard that Jesus was coming and went to meet him. She had something on her mind and she went to tell him. In an earlier visit from Jesus (Luke 10:38-42), Martha had come to Jesus to point out that she was doing all the work, since her sister Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to what he was saying. She wanted Jesus to “tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40). This time, she wanted to share how she felt about his reply to their message about Lazarus being sick.
On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.
John 11:17-27 NIV
Martha pointed out to Jesus that if he had made the visit earlier, he could have kept her brother from dying. That seems like a reasonable thought, since Martha knew about Jesus healing the sick. He could have healed Lazarus, but why didn’t he?
Jesus had told his disciples that he was glad Lazarus was dead, for their sake so that they could believe (John 11:15). He wanted them to believe, so he didn’t just heal Lazarus when he heard he was sick. He certainly could have healed him, without even visiting him. Jesus had in mind a better way, that would help them believe.
What Martha Knew
What Martha says next is remarkable. She says that she knows something: Jesus can ask God and her brother could still live. This is amazing because no one had seen anyone raised from the dead. She had amazing faith that God could do whatever Jesus asked. When Jesus assures her that her brother will rise again, she says she knows he will rise again “at the last day”. She was looking forward to some future day when the power of resurrection would be displayed.
Jesus’ response is “I am the resurrection and the life”! The time Lazarus would rise again wasn’t the real issue; it was who would resurrect him to a new life. Jesus has the power over death and had the power in that moment, not just on the last day.
What Martha Did
Jesus asks her if she believes this (John 11:26 NIV). She responded with a statement of her belief in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, but then went to get her sister Mary. Was she still thinking that Jesus could ask God to restore Lazarus’ life?
Mary rushed out to see Jesus, and many Jews followed her and Martha, weeping as the came to where Jesus was. She says the same words to Jesus as her sister did earlier “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32 NIV). Jesus saw their grief, asked them where they had laid Lazarus and their grief moves him. John 11:35 tells us simply “Jesus wept.” Mary and Martha then led him to the tomb, where the story continues:
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
John 11:38-44 NIV
Standing before the tomb, Martha still seemed to have some doubt. She cautioned Jesus about taking the stone away, expecting the odor of death to flow out. Jesus reminded her that if she believed, she would see God’s glory, so they remove the stone. Then Jesus prays, asking God to do what he wants for his friend, and so that all could believe. He shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43 NIV). Lazarus came out of the tomb, still in the strips of linen and cloth over his head used for his burial preparations. I’ve heard it preached that Jesus needed to say Lazarus’ name, because if he didn’t specifically call for him, ALL the dead would have risen to his call. All listen for the words of the Resurrection and the Life!
Believing Like Martha Believed
We’re a lot like Martha and Mary. We say we know and that we believe, but is it only in our head or is it in our heart? We know there’s a heaven and that Jesus is the resurrection. We also believe the He is the Life, but do we live like we know and believe this?
As we’ve continued our men’s morning devotional “haverim” this year, it’s helped me to refocus on the Word and to build my faith through my personal times with God. We’ve been reading through the entire New Testament, and it’s helped me understand more about Jesus. I’ve seen him resurrect my faith and provide me with a life of blessings. While I’ve faced many difficulties, including the recent loss of my job in October, I have not lost hope about the future. I continue to see Him providing a full life for me with the promise of resurrection.
Jesus says “I am the Resurrection and the Life”. We need him so that we can believe and have hope for our lives and our future.