Studies in John's Gospel. Pt. 59 Martha's strong faith & Jesus' powerful "I Am the Resurrection & Life"

Good Morning to each one of you.

We were blessed with a great Lord's Day together with our church family. When the service was over the sky was filled with beautiful, deep slate colored storm clouds. 

It began to rain shortly after arriving at home and we really needed it. I am always reminded how rain and water are pictures of the Word of God (See Deuteronomy 32:1-4; Isaiah 55:1-11; Ephesians 5:25).

Lazarus died, grieving was going on. 

John 11:17-19  Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18) Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19) And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 

In this text we see that by the time Christ came to Bethany in response to the sisters message, Lazarus had died and had been buried for 4 days.  Jerusalem was only about 2 miles from Bethany so Jesus was close by and could have gone to Bethany much sooner than He did. It reminds us what we previously learned about Jesus doing the Father's will, at the time deemed best by His Father. 

Due to the warm climate in that location, a body begins to decompose quickly. Normally a person was buried the same day that they passed away.

Many of the same Jews from Jerusalem that Jesus encountered before were among those who came to comfort Mary and Martha. It was considered a religious duty to comfort the family mourning over the loss of a loved one.

Martha's faith on display.

John 11:20-22  Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21) Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22) But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 

A bit of the sisters' personalities is shown to us in this text. We might say that Martha was more active in responding to Christ because as soon as she was told that Jesus arrived, she went out to meet Him. The word "went" conveys Martha went to Christ with a sense of urgency and purpose. 

Mary, on the other hand seemed to be more contemplative. She remained seated in the home. She "sat still" in the home mourning the loss of her brother and reflecting upon what she knew to be true about Jesus Christ. 

The first words out of Martha's mouth showed that she had strong faith and solid trust in the Lord. She told Jesus that if He had been at their home then Lazarus would not have died. She was confident Christ would have interceded and prevented his death. 

Martha next declared that she "knew" that whatever Jesus asked of His Father, the Father would do for His Son. The word "know" means that Martha arrived at this conclusion by what she heard Jesus say and what she saw Jesus do. 

It means she used her mind to carefully investigate Jesus as He ministered through His words and works. Martha was led to a point of expressing faith in Christ. 

Jesus declared "I Am the Resurrection & the Life"

John 11:23-7  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27) She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. 

Now we hear the first words from the lips of our Lord. Jesus told Martha that her brother would rise. It is a resurrection word that means literally to raise from the dead. Jesus did not put a time constraint upon this word because He already knew that He was going to raise Lazarus back to life. 

Martha's reply was that she knew Lazarus would be raised at the great day of resurrection. She was thinking of a future event but Jesus was seeking to help her understand that with God nothing is impossible. 

Jesus sought to reorient Martha's view to the fact that Jehovah in the flesh was standing right in front of her. Jesus gave another emphatic "I Am" statement that says "I Am Jehovah who stands in front of you." 

Remember that Jehovah is the God of lovingkindness, the covenant keeping God who inhabits eternity yet dwells with those who have humble hearts and contrite spirits. He is the unchanging God who will always do what He said He will do. This is who stood to speak with Martha!

Christ is the resurrection and the life. He is Creator God. Remember how John introduced Jesus as the eternal Word in John 1? 

Christ the life giving Creator.

John 1:1-4  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2) The same was in the beginning with God. 3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

This text at the beginning of John's gospel declares that Jesus is the Word of God. He is the full embodiment of the Godhead. He made all things. He is the source of all life.  

How does the Bible begin in Genesis 1:1? "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Ten times the scripture describes the creative acts of God by using this phrase "And God Said." He spoke His Word and it was done. Christ is the eternal Word of God and He spoke all things into existence.

 The one who has power to create and give life and has the power to raise the dead back to life is the one who said "I Am the Resurrection and the Life". 

Jesus pulled Martha back to present realities.

Jesus turns Martha back to the immediate situation rather than the future resurrection of the dead. He just declared who He is with another "I Am" statement connecting Christ and Jehovah. Jesus told Martha that all who believe on Him though he were dead, he would live. She believed her brother would rise in the day of Resurrection. Jesus wanted her to see that Christ had power to raise her brother at that moment in time. 

Next, Jesus led Martha into a fuller understanding of His vast power. Whoever lives and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation is given eternal life. Though the believers physical body may die, eternal life means that the inner man and that spirit put in us by God will be joined with God in heaven until resurrection day when it will be reunited with a glorified body. 

Martha ends this part of their conversation in order to return to their home. She made another strong and clear declaration of faith in Christ. The sister whose name means "she is rebellious" had submitted herself to Jesus Christ and committed her soul to Him! She was no longer a rebel but was made a child of God!

Thoughts to Ponder...

Jesus waited until Lazarus was dead before going to see Mary and Martha. He knew the Father's will in this matter was to glorify His Son, by raising Lazarus from the dead. In man's eyes this was an impossible situation because life was gone and Lazarus was dead. With God, nothing is impossible. 

Do we believe that God can still do the impossible today? We must continue praying for lost souls that we know and sharing God's truth with those who seem disinterested in the truth. 

Martha is a great example of a believer's strong faith. She never waffled in her faith. She clearly and forcefully articulated her belief in the work and person of Jesus Christ. 

Can we share our faith as clearly as Martha did? Can we tell others what Christ has done in our lives? Can we speak of God's promises that we rest on?

Jesus is Jehovah in the flesh. All that the Old Testament teaches us about Jehovah is the reality of who Christ is. I find this truth to be very settling to my soul as I face turbulent and uncertain times.  

Jesus is the source of life and the source of resurrection power. He is the Eternal Word of God and the Creator. He is the great "I Am" who spoke with Moses at the burning bush and who speaks to us today through His word.

Are we exercising strong faith in Christ? Are we living for His honor and glory? Are we seeking to serve Him here so that we may hear "Well done" when we are there with him?

I pray that Christ will lead us along as we think about and meditate upon these truths. We will be raised from the dead one day by the power of the great "I Am." We can live each day in resurrection power and strong faith until He calls us home. May we choose to honor God in our response to His word this day and always!

Bob