Rebekah Wilson, Alpha Team
Rebekah Wilson 0:07
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s daily dose of the Word of God. Today is Tuesday, March 21st and this is Rebekah Wilson. This week we are journeying with Jesus toward the cross, stumbling along with Lazarus, or rather, Martha in John Chapter 11 verses 17-37.
Rebekah Wilson 0:28
“When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to pay their respects and console Martha and Mary on their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.’ Jesus told her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ ‘Yes,’ Martha said, ‘when everyone else rises, on resurrection day.’ Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she told him. ‘I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.’”
Rebekah Wilson 1:33
Poor Martha. She is forever known as the sister that was too busy preparing things for Jesus that she missed out on just enjoying being with him. We cringe at ourselves when we find that we’ve been too preoccupied with details and call ourselves “a Martha” and instead strive to be more like Mary. And don’t get me wrong, Mary was commended by Jesus for having chosen the “better thing.” But let’s take a closer look today at Martha’s response here. Martha’s beloved brother was dead. John makes the point of telling us that he’s very much gone. He had been dead and buried for four days already. And yet, as Martha approaches Jesus, she says, with confidence, “I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” She had faith that Jesus could perform miracles and if He asked, her brother would be the recipient of one of them. This passage contains one of six “I AM” statements that John makes a point of emphasizing, and that’s usually what is talked about in most teachings on this passage, but notice again what Martha says right after Jesus proclaims that He is the resurrection and the life. She says, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into this world.”
Rebekah Wilson 2:58
It’s a profound moment in anyone’s life when they say out loud, for the first time, Jesus is the Son of God. He is the Lord of my life. Because when we believe this in our hearts and confess with our mouths, we’re returning from the dead just as much as Lazarus did! (Spoiler alert: he doesn’t stay dead for very long). We are all dead in our sins until we accept Jesus’ free gift, His miracle of life and we cross over from the grave to eternal life. This is such a thing to celebrate that the Bible tells us that the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner who repents. I do wonder what was more of a joy to witness for Jesus; His friend Lazarus walking out of that grave, or His other friend Martha walking from death to life.
Rebekah Wilson 3:50
Let’s pray. Father God, we thank you for saving us. We praise you for being the Resurrection and the Life. You alone hold all power and authority over death and life and all of creation. Please help us to have an eternal mindset today and to remember that you came into this world to bring life and to reconcile the world back to yourself. Amen.