In Part 1, Jesus has intentionally delayed going to his dearest friends, so that what he will do when he gets there will cause his disciples to believe in him. This is quite an indictment of the disciples by their Master. Have they still not believed?
Now, it is time to go to Bethany:
“Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days … many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother” (Jn 11:17-19).
So the delay in going to Martha and Mary has a second benefit, not only for the disciples, but also to give the Jews another chance to believe, witnessed by such a crowd of Jews and their leaders that there cannot be any dispute about Jesus.
“So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house” (Jn 11:20).
Martha, you will remember, is the one who earlier had entertained Jesus at their house (Lk 10:38-42) and displayed perfect disunity by asking Jesus to chastise her sister for not helping her with all the tasks of hospitality. Mary, on the other hand was sitting in rapture at Jesus feet, hanging on his every word in perfect unity with him.
So here again we have Martha, full of energy and the need for action, charging out to confront Jesus, while Mary sits placidly at home, serene and expectant:
“Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you’” (Jn 11:21-22).
This is a different Martha than the one who was angry with Jesus in the story from Luke. When she rushes out to meet Jesus this time, she is not accusing him of causing her brother’s death. She is stating a fact, but then following it up with a statement of faith!
As we study how to promote perfect unity today, we would do well to look beyond widely varying personality traits, disregarding high “in-your-face” energy or placid quietness and focusing on the actual condition of each person’s true faith.
Jesus answers true faith in perfect unity whether or not we step on our own toes!
Jesus answers Martha: “’Your brother will rise again’” (Jn 11:23).
Martha has no idea what is about to happen and cannot know that she is misinterpreting what Jesus has said:
“’I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (Jn 11:24).
Jesus answers not only Martha, but all who do not yet realize who Jesus really is:
“’I AM the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this’” (Jn 11:25-26).
And standing there with Jesus, surrounded by many Jews and their leaders, Martha replies for all eternity:
“’Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world’” (Jn 11:27).
The Greek participle “is coming” is fascinating, because in a sense it can be timeless. It can mean “has come” as well as “is coming.” Therefore, it is timeless. Therefore it speaks to you and me just personally as it does to Martha.
Whether we are more like Martha or more like Mary or unique is our own personality given to us as a gift of God, we can truly say that Jesus is the timeless I AM, who has come, is coming, and will come to those who believe in him in perfect unity as the Messiah and Christ. Jesus has, does, and will snap each of our physical deaths instantly to life everlasting!
Hurry back for Part 3!