…if you believe, you will see the glory of God. John 11:40
Jesus hears Martha’s heartbreaking words as she leans into him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” How he perhaps wipes her tears while reminding her of the hope she has clung to in the past: “Your brother will rise again.” Finally, after Jesus supports her hope with resurrection truth, she whispers, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
Have you experienced moments when God personally comforted you in times of sorrow or doubt or weariness? You settled into his love with enough faith to walk the path ahead? You found unbelievable strength to keep on keeping on?
Mourning crowds rush toward the tomb, Mary and Martha cling to each other as a weeping Jesus goes to the grave of his friend. The Martha who moments ago expressed her faith in words that echo down through the ages, now says, “But Lord… By this time there is a bad odor for he has been there four days.” From a strong faith she returns to the reality of death.
We understand Martha’s strong faith/small faith all too well. We have seen God work miracles in our lives and in the lives of those we hold dear. We whisper our own statements of faith, but when “reality” hits, we falter. Just a bit.
When Jesus told the bystanders to remove Lazarus’ binding grave clothes, I wonder if some of Martha’s small faith wrappings also fell off? She will need her growing faith in the days ahead as she sees her precious Jesus betrayed, beaten, crucified. But I think that even in tears her steps were a little stronger, her thinking a little clearer as she recalled the faith expanding action of her Savior when the glory of God was revealed at the resurrection.
Oh dear Father, I cry out with the words of a father desperate for his son’s healing, “I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).
By Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission
FURTHER READING
• The Walk of Obedience – by Mary Pinckney
• Blessed Obedience – by Idelette McVicker
• God Requires Risky Obedience – by Jon Walker
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