Faith like Martha, Waiting in Bethany

I think we judge Martha too quickly when we read about her and her sister in Luke. There is another story about the two sisters in John.

Jesus is beyond Jordan when he hears that Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, is sick. He waits two days before starting towards Bethany. During that time, Lazarus dies. Jesus tells his disciples that are with him, “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe” (John 11:15).

When he gets near Bethany it is Martha, not Mary, that rushes to meet him, before he even arrives in the city.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
John 11:20

Mary does not come until Martha tells her that Jesus has asked for her. But then she comes quickly.

As I read the story this week, the testimony of Martha stood out to me.

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
John 11:21-27

Martha knew Jesus could have healed her brother. She knew all will be restored in the resurrection. And she knew Christ is the Son of God.

I know Jesus can take away the pains and trials I have. I know all promised blessings will be given either in this life or the next. And I know Christ is the Son of God.

This week I was able to relate the story to my life. There have been blessings I’ve waited for where it felt that in some way Christ was beyond Jordan. He did not come immediately. I was single for a lot longer than I’d originally planned on. Yet I knew the promised blessing of marriage would be mine, if not in this life than in the next. Perhaps Christ waited for my sake, in order that I might believe on Him. Because when Christ did arrive in Bethany he performed a miracle that Mary and Martha had not expected, that strengthened not only their faith but the faith of those they knew as well. He raised Lazarus from the dead. When Christ arrived in the Bethany of my singlehood, He performed the miracle of putting Brett and I together, a miracle I am still in awe of.

There are other Bethanys in my life where I am waiting for promised blessings. I know when the time comes, when the time is right for my sake or the sake of those around me, I will receive those blessings in more abundance than I can now imagine. Christ is there. He knows what my suffering is. I must have faith in God’s timing.

When Mary does come she does what many of us would do in that situation, she falls at Christ’s feet and shares her grief.

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John 11:32

I’ve fallen at the feet of Jesus in prayer many times and explained my grief as I see it through my mortal eyes, with my mortal perspective. And I’ve felt a comforting arm around me. One of the most powerful scriptures comes from this story.

Jesus wept.
John 11:35

Jesus knows what is about to happen. He knows there is about to be a joyful reunion of the siblings. But He does not tell them not to grieve, not to mourn, to look at the big picture. He understands their feelings. He feels it with them. He mourns with them as they view the situation from their mortal perspective.

Martha then has faith to remove the stone from the tomb, an act that makes no sense to her as experience has taught that a four-day-old dead body has some unpleasant odors with it. But she does it.

I hope my faith and testimony are such that when Jesus comes to my Bethany I will be prepared to do what I need to so I can receive all the promised blessings.