We read in Luke 10:38-42 about the friends of Jesus: Mary and Martha; they had a brother named Lazurus, and scripture says Jesus loved them. In Luke 10 Martha opened her home to Jesus and the disciples, served Him, and learned from Him. In John 11, we find an even more familiar and miraculous story about this same family.
Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
John 11:1-7 NIV
Wait.. what? Jesus loved them, so he waited two more days to go? And Lazurus died! Jesus didn’t heal him from afar, didn’t send a doctor or a disciple, and didn’t help Lazurus hang on til they arrived in Judea. Lazurus died. Martha and Mary grieved. They had needed Jesus to be there; they knew what He could do. But Jesus said this death would glorify Him and the Father.
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
John 11:17-22 NIV
Many others had come to comfort them. When Jesus arrived, Martha ran out while her sister Mary stayed inside. I wonder about their mindsets at this time, the ways they were grieving. We get one clear statement of this when Martha says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Maybe she was thinking…Jesus, where were you? You could have helped. We would not be in this situation if you had been here. I thought you loved us. Don’t “park” on those words though, not for Martha, nor for your situation!! Next, Martha said, “But I know that EVEN NOW God will give you whatever you ask” (verse 32). Her hurt, questions, and struggle were real but so was her faith!
In the message linked here, Karen Wheaton calls this “wobbly faith,” and, thank the Lord, wobbly faith still works!!! In Mark chapter 9, a desperate father said – I believe, but help my unbelief! Jesus performed His miracle that day despite wobbly faith.How do you wait on God? — Karen Wheaton | Session 1 | Front Porch Friends UK
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “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.”40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 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.”43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 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
You can read the full account here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2011&version=NIVJesus did the impossible for this family despite their doubt, their complaint, and the fact that four days had passed and the whole situation literally stunk! Let us not limit Him! Naturally, none of us like to wait, and we don’t want to be faced with death, grieving, or any type of deep disappointments. There is much to gain in the waiting, though. Psalm 27: 14 states, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” While we are waiting, he will make us stronger!
Devotional by Heather Cornett
