Tuesday, November 18, 2008
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From Faith to Faith
Jesus had some really good friends in a town called Bethany: Martha, Mary, and their younger brother, Lazarus. It appears that he probably visited them often and stayed at their house when he was passing through town. On one occasion, when he and all of his disciples stopped there, Martha preoccupied herself with putting on a big spread for all of them while Mary was content to sit at Jesus feet and be taught (Luke 10:38-42). Martha complained about it and Jesus used the occasion to teach Martha about what was really important. Mary, by the way, was the "woman who had lived a sinful life," (Luke 7:37, see John 11:2) — a way of saying that she had been a prostitute — who anointed Jesus feet with costly perfume and her tears and dried his feet with her hair.
Although we are not told with what he was suffering, Lazarus was sick (John 11:1). And so the sisters did what they knew to do, they sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick" (John 11:3). This word reached Jesus, and he proclaimed to his disciples that "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it" (John 11:4). He loved these three young people very much (John 11:5), however, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days (John 11:6) and only then suggested that they make the trip to the town of Bethany in Judea — they were apparently staying on the far side of the Jordan River where John the Baptist had ministered in his early days (John 10:40). Jesus disciples were concerned because going there meant contact with the Jews who wanted to kill him. Jesus was less concerned about himself than about others, specifically Martha, Mary and Lazarus.
Although he had not been told by anyone, Jesus knew that Lazarus had succumbed to the illness and died. He told the disciples, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up" (John 11:11). The disciples figured that sleeping would be good for him and that that would help him get better. Why was it so important that Jesus be the one to wake him up? They said exactly this. What's the problem? "So he told them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead!' " (John 11:14), but then hinted at what this whole happening was about: "and for your sake, I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe [so that you may have faith or grow in your faith]" (John 11:15). So, let's go to Lazarus. Even at some personal risk! The glory of God and the faith of believers takes precedence over safety!
I'm not sure of the time line, however, by the time Jesus and the disciples arrive, Lazarus is not only dead but has been in the tomb for four days (John 11:17). Martha heard that Jesus was coming and went out to meet him. Mary stayed in the house. And, it is important to see the revolution that has taken place in Martha! She has learned the lesson Jesus taught in Luke 10. She leaves all of the people who are in their house mourning the loss of Lazarus and wants rather to be with Jesus as soon and as much as possible and leaves Mary to tend to the guests! Mary and Martha are now on the same faith level, and in fact, they say exactly the same words to Jesus when they meet him: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died (John 11:21, John 11:32). They had faith that Jesus could have and would have healed Lazarus. They had faith for healing. But Martha, yes Martha, went even further to say, "But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask" (John 11:22). She wasn't sure what that could be but given Jesus, she had faith that anything was possible!
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again" (John 11:23). Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day [at some time in the future]" (John 11:24). Jesus said to her,
"I am [meaning right now, in this present moment] the resurrection and the life. He who believes [has faith] in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes [has faith] in me will never die" (John 11:25-26).
And then he asked the really important question that all of us must answer and that makes all of the difference. "Do you believe this?" Do you have faith? For right now? That I can change things and make a difference right now, not just at some undetermined point in the future? Do you believe in the "I AM" God, not just the I was or I will be?
Martha responded by saying, "I believe that you are [right now at this moment in history] the Christ [the Messiah, the anointed one of God], the Son of God who was to come into the world" (John 11:27). What has happened to this Martha character who before was "distracted by all the preparations" and "worried and upset about many things" (Luke 10:40-41)? She met Jesus for real, that's what happened, and she entered into a life of faith! And she was willing to believe for even more: "I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask" (John 11:22)! Mary is there too. She came to Jesus and took her favorite position, at his feet (John 11:32)!
Skip to the end of the story. They received their miracle. They had faith for healing. But then Lazarus had died. Jesus seemingly had showed up too late. But wait, was it too late? Or could they stretch their faith to believe for more. To believe for an even bigger impossible? Why not? Is anything too difficult for God? "Lazarus, come out!" Jesus said, and he came.
Jesus was performing a miracle here, but more than that, he was bringing glory to God. You see, faith brings glory to God! That is because faith is never about us or about what we can do. It is about what God can accomplish. And God says that he will hear and respond to our faith just the same way that he responded to the faith of Jesus (see John 11:41-42). Mary and Martha had their faith expanded on this day. Jesus did what he did so that those present "may believe [have faith] that the Father sent the Son" (John 11:42). It is to the glory of God that we have and exercise faith in God and in his Son.
What could you believe for yesterday? Jesus says that that is good, but now, today like Martha and Mary, knowing him, can you believe for even more? He wants our faith to go from faith to more faith, today and every day. And today, this day, he is still the great "I AM."
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