Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
In the Gospel of John, we are introduced to a special family that Jesus became friends with. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived in a little village called Bethany, which was just a couple of miles outside of Jerusalem. It seems from several biblical stories that Jesus spent significant time with these siblings. I think it was likely that when the Lord traveled to Jerusalem for Jewish holidays, He stayed in Bethany at Martha’s house with His disciples.
In John chapter 11, a message is sent to Jesus that Lazarus is really sick. It was a sickness that was so serious it warranted getting word to Jesus right away. The message was simple, “Lord, he whom you love is ill” (John 11:3). Jesus was a renowned miracle worker. Surely Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ connection with and hospitality to this famous rabbi had earned them a healing. Jesus’ response is quite unexpected and strange. Here’s what the Apostle John records:
When Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So… (John 11:4-5, italics added for emphasis)
They loved Jesus. Jesus loved them. Lazarus was sick and Jesus healed sick people. “So…” you would expect that the loving, miracle-working Jesus would have canceled His plans and immediately made His way back to Bethany. But that isn’t what happened. John records, “When He heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was” (John 11:6).
After the sisters sent word to Jesus, I picture them waiting with great anticipation for the Lord’s arrival. But day after day, hour after hour as their brother grew weaker, Jesus was nowhere to be found. I imagine Mary and Martha thinking during those long days, “Where is Jesus? I thought He loved my brother? I thought He loved me?” And then, Lazarus died.
Four days later, Jesus and His disciples arrived in Bethany. When Martha finally sees Christ, she seems to give Him a piece of her mind. “Lord,” she says, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). A little later, Mary falls at the feet of Jesus and says the same thing. They were friends with a miracle worker and they desperately needed His help, but Jesus didn’t show up in time. They were heartbroken and grief stricken. Their faith was shaken, because Jesus had failed to meet their expectations.
Like Mary and Martha, we often link God’s love with our expectations. When God “fails” to meet our expectations, we might question His love for us. In those moments we must let truth trump our feelings.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. Psalm 103:11
For your steadfast love is great above the heavens. Psalm 108:4
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
I have loved you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3
Jesus really loved Lazarus, so why didn’t He heal him? In the gospels Jesus had actually done miracles across great distances without even being present with the person. He certainly could have done that for Lazarus, but He didn’t. Why? Because Jesus was going to show Martha, Mary, and Lazarus more than a miracle.
The Lord traveled to the tomb where His friend was buried and there He wept. The crowds of people commented, “See how he loved him!” (John 11:36). Christ’s love for Lazarus was evident in the tears that He shed and His power would be unmistakable in what He did next. Jesus called Lazarus by name and raised him from the dead. News of this miracle would spread throughout the entire region. Jesus had brought a dead man back to life!
What happened at Lazarus’ tomb wasn’t just an incredible miracle, it was a preview of something greater. Christ’s death and resurrection showed that His power and His love are both limitless! With Christ, death is not the end. Eternal life is made possible by the love of God! This is the hope that Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and the disciples were given that day in Bethany. A.W. Tozer writes, “…because God is self-existent, His love had no beginning; because He is eternal, His love can have no end; because He is infinite, it has no limit; because He is holy, it is the quintessence of all spotless purity; because He is immense, His love is an incomprehensibly vast, bottomless, shoreless sea before which we kneel in joyful silence and from which the loftiest eloquence retreats confused and abashed.”
When we believe in Jesus (John 11:25), we are confident that in every season of life we are a recipient of God’s steadfast, unchanging love. Christ is the declaration of God’s love to the world. Jesus is also the definitive proof that God understands and empathizes with our suffering and sorrow. Being loved by God doesn’t mean an easy, pain-free life. God does not promise to eliminate struggles, but He does vow to go through them with us. His presence is what provides perseverance through the pain. God says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). When God professes His love, He promises His presence.
My wife, Jennifer, found this beautiful poem and shared it with me. She has shared it with some of our friends who are mentioned in this book.
Pain knocked at my door and said she’d come to stay.
Though I would not welcome her but bade her go away,
Still she entered —
And like my shade she followed after me,
And from her stabbing stinging sword
No moment was I free.
And then one day another knocked most gently at my door.
I cried, “No! Pain is living here; there’s no room for more.”
And then I heard His tender voice, “‘Tis I, be not afraid.”
And from that day He entered in – the difference that it made!
For though He did not bid her leave — my strange unwelcome guest,
He taught me how to live with her;
And no one ever guessed that we could dwell so sweetly here –
My Lord, and pain and I – within this fragile house of clay,
While years slip slowly by.
God recognizes that grief is not something you get over, but something you go through. He promises to go through it with you. One of my favorite song lyrics simply says, “Sometimes he calms the storm, and other times he calms his child.” Christ walks through the storms of life with us. He stands right with us as a seemingly endless amount of waves crash against us. He stands in the fire with us. He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). We do not have to fear what is coming, because He is with us. He will strengthen and help us. And when we don’t feel like we can stand, He says, “I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
In difficult and challenging circumstances, we can be confident in our loving, heavenly Father’s power, purpose, and providence! God is in complete control. All that happens exists for His glory. His ways are not our ways. And what makes us embrace these truths is God’s loving embrace of us. The glory of His power is equally matched by the majesty and magnificence of His love for you and me.
Prayer of confession and belief –
God, thank you for creating me and loving me. I confess that I have rebelled against you. I have broken your laws. But in your kindness, you have made a way for me to escape the eternal consequences of my sins. I repent of my sin and turn to you as Lord and Master of my life. I believe that you died and rose again from the grave. I stand in awe that you know everything about my past, present, and future and still without any hesitation profess your love for me. I give you praise and glory. Amen.