5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
20 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.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
John 11:5, 20-23, and 12:2
As both Scripture and our study guide point out, Martha “had a history of being moved to action by her love for Jesus.” We see this truth in action after Lazarus dies, and Martha hears that Jesus is coming – she immediately goes to meet Him. It is unclear if she even told Mary that He was coming or that she was going out to meet Him. The fact that Mary remained sitting in the house leads one to believe that she may not have known.
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John 11:21
While Martha’s statement to Jesus can be seen as an accusation, it is also possible and even probable that it was simply a statement of sorrow, coupled with Martha’s strong faith that, had Jesus been there, the outcome could have been different. One commentary explains it like this: In full context, her meaning is something like, “this is not how I hoped things would be.” Which was followed by her next statement: “But I know that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.“1 Can you imagine her delight when, after seeing/hearing her faith, Jesus responded: “Your brother shall rise again.”
So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Reflection/Application
What example(s) does Martha set for us in today’s passage?
What could you be doing while you wait for His return?
The More We Know
It is worth noting this piece of trivia from the study guide: “The last time Martha is mentioned she served supper.” – “There they made Him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him.” John 12:2
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:20-21 NET
Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the lamb! Redeemed through His infinite mercy—His child—and forever—I am! These are the words that came to my mind as I was reading and studying this passage. I was hit with the stark reminder that our God, the Father of Jesus, set in motion a plan for Jesus to suffer and die for the sins of the world. Oh! What love that brought Jesus down to man – Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span – at Calvary!
We find Jesus throughout the Old Testament1, but as Peter points out – Jesus was not revealed or made visibly known, until “the last times.”1 According to Peter, God did this “for our sake.” It is because of Him that we can truly trust in God because Jesus’ death wasn’t the end – but God – just as He said He would – raised Jesus from the dead and made Him known so that our faith and hope would be – not just in Jesus – but in the ONE who raised Jesus from the dead. – Thus, it is written, “6 Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6)
The Father paid the ultimate price to redeem us, giving limitless value to lives that would have otherwise been futile and empty.
For true application, we must look at the full passage.
(17) “Live out” our life here on earthin reverence to God
Reverence is defined as “deep respect.” To live in reverence to God is to have and show deep respect for God.
align our will with His
live obediently to His commands.
live and love like Jesus
(18) “Understand” that before putting our faith in Jesus, our life was empty – leading to death. We were held captive to sin.
(19) “Remember we have been ransomed (redeemed) by the blood of Jesus!
Truly understanding this is life-changing!
(20) Remember, God loves us and made Jesus known to us – when the time was right
He did this for us
(21) Place our hope and trust in Him!
God wants us to trust Him and to find hope in Him not just because He sent Jesus to earth and ultimately to the cross – but because we know that He also raised Jesus from the grave! Consider these words of Paul:
And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
1 Corinthians 15:17-20
PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY
Father, How great You are – that You sent Your Son to die that we might live and not die the death that was rightfully ours, the death our sins deserved. Mercifully, You revealed Jesus to us! Mercifully, You sent Him to the cross, and mercifully, You raised Him from the grave! How, oh how, can we not trust You? As we live out our lives on earth, let us live in reverence to You. Help us trust You in all things – and to remember Your truths and promises are Yes and amen in JESUS! – AMEN!
Music for the Journey
THE MORE WE KNOW
What does 1 Peter 1:20 mean?
The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross wasn’t improvised. God didn’t make it up in response to the unfolding events of history. Peter writes that Christ was known before the world was founded. As God, Jesus existed in eternity past as the one whose blood would cover the sins of all who receive salvation. Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and return to the Father were always God’s plan to save us. Always. Jesus was always the answer to the questions asked by the prophets and the angels investigating what the Holy Spirit’s Old Testament prophecies were pointing to (1 Peter 1:10–12).
Finally, in Peter’s lifetime and those of his readers—the beginning of what Peter calls the “last times”—God revealed the mystery. He showed Himself and His plan to the world by coming to earth as a baby, a man, God in flesh, the final sacrifice for sin. Why? For our sake. God’s great gift of mercy, and the timing of that gift in human history, demonstrates God’s great love for us (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
Me From the Inside Out 