Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
Memory Verse: John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
Right from the very start of creation of man, God set us free to enjoy all other things He has created to the maximum but along with all that liberty, He shouldered us with responsibilities to look after everything in the garden of Eden. God also gave man commands which were the do’s and don’ts of living a successful life forever and at that stage man in the name of Adam had no doubt in his mind. Man believed everything God said and so every path of man’s life was beautiful Genesis 2:15-17 until the serpent came to work on Eve’s believe.
The conversation between Eve and the serpent was even more successful because the devil first checked on Eve’s understanding and as a result was able to picture what Eve truly believed in prior to his arrival and through devious skills, the devil was able to work on just one thing “her believe”. Through the rest of that conversation, we read that Eve with the help of the serpent suddenly believed that the fruit will give her more wisdom and because of the change in position, she progressed through with the disobedience to God and initiated the first sin and fall of man Genesis 3:1-6.
Similar to the very beginning we see in today’s bible text the conversation between Martha the sister of Lazarus and Jesus before the resurrection of Lazarus after being dead four days. Jesus already knew His friend Lazarus was dead and though Jesus may have looked sad, He knew the death of Lazarus was all part of God’s plan to glorify Himself as He always knows the end from he beginning.
The question Jesus asked Martha is not only for Martha but for believers everywhere in the world. Has God not proven Himself since the very beginning of the world? Has any of His word being null? Did He not prove Himself from your conception and has He not through His works proven to you over the years that He is able to do all things? Then why do we doubt Him during this present challenges?
There will be a point in everyone’s life where giving up is the only option due to repeated failures, even Lazarus’ family got to this point but when Jesus said to Martha “Your brother will rise again”, He was saying that even if no one else can handle a dead case, I am able. Your situation might sound like it’s worse than a dead case, but if you believe in Jesus, know this that ‘He is able’. Men cannot handle a dead case, but God can. He will hold your hands through this valley of the shadow of death and you will come out in one peace.
One thing to note from this chapter is in verse 3 “Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”. They called him when they though there was still hope of Lazarus being healed from His sickness but not after He was dead. They didn’t bother Jesus again thinking now that He’s dead then there is no longer hope.”
A lot of us are like this when things begin to happen in our lives. We call upon God at the initial stage when we think that He can do something to change our situation immediately, but as soon as things don’t improve then we come to the point where everything seems to have ended, we give up and stop calling upon Him.
Do not stop calling upon God, even if all you see is no light and everything seem dead around you, God has yet another way to deal your case. Remember God did not visit Lazarus when He was sick because it was just not the right time and the setup for God’s glory was not complete. The complete setup was for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it John 11:4b.
Just like Jesus loved Mary and Martha, He loves you and your situation is not enough to separate you from His love. God will be glorified in you, just believe!
PRAYERS:
- Father I thank you for always being true to your word
- Thank you Father for you never ever fail and you remain the same
- Thank you Lord for you will come through for me in my hard times
- Thank you father for through you I will overcome every hurdles in life
- Thank you for the power in your word which gives life, direction, instruction and understanding
- Thank You Jesus for it is well with me
- Forgive my sins o Lord and receive my sacrifice of praise, AMEN.
