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The power to raise the dead

Text: John 11 : 17-44

THE POWER TO RAISE THE DEAD

Jesus wanted His Disciples to have the deepest faith in Him. He did everything He could to deepen their faith in Him. He provided the means, but the actual kind of faith they possessed in their hearts depended on the Disciples themselves. “That you may believe…” was the watchword with Jesus. If His closest Disciples struggled with deepening their faith, how would others not within the privileged circle fare?

Jesus understood Martha. Her declaration of faith was good and correct. There would be a final resurrection of the righteous. Her brother would indeed be among those who would be raised from the dead. But there was an important insight that she seemed to have missed. Jesus went on to reveal an important truth.

“I am the Resurrection and the Life.
He who believes in Me, though he may die,
he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me
shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25

Did Martha really know who Jesus was – in His fullness? Did she know that she was speaking to One who had the power to raise the dead? He was the Resurrection! He was The Life! How much did she understand about Jesus? How much faith did she really have?

Jesus urged her to think about the ramifications of full faith in Him. Death physical was a natural part of life. Yes, her brother had died! Understandably, she was grieved in her heart that she had “lost” her brother. But was the physical life all there was?

Had Martha fully considered what it really meant to believe in Jesus? There was physical life but there was “another life” that was even more important. The physical life is only temporary and will cease in due time. There was the spiritual aspect of life. Few seem to understand this and fewer yet appreciate the significance of the life of the spirit.

The spirit will live on even when the physical body expires. This was what Jesus sought to teach Martha. Thus He could say with all certainty that whoever believed in Him, though he will die (physical death) he will never die (spiritual death). He will always be alive in Christ? Did Mary really believe in this?

Her knowledge of Christ was tested. Her faith in Jesus was also sorely tested! Did she really believe in Jesus? How deeply had she believed in Him?

A VALIANT STRUGGLE

Martha must have struggled with these words of Jesus. He had not spoken much about Lazarus at all. He had only asked her to examine her faith in Him. Could she do that? Could she think beyond her brother, his demise, her personal sorrow and focus on her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ instead? This was the kind of faith that Jesus wanted His Disciples to have in Him. Did they possess that faith?

The reply of Martha was most intriguing. She said,

“Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ,
the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
John 11:27

Martha may not have fully comprehended what Jesus was capable of doing, nor what He would actually do next, but her faith was intact. No more did she grumble under her breath that Jesus should have come earlier, and thus prevent her brother from dying. No more was she sorrowing for her loss of her brother. She was just focused on Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. He was right there with her, speaking to her! There wasn’t anything more significant than that!

MINISTERING TO OTHERS WHO WERE SORROWING

Martha was so caught up with herself and how she felt that she paid scant regard for others who felt that same depth of sorrow. Martha had a sister. It is possible that she may feel even greater grief and sorrow.

One important expression of true faith is the desire and the ability to minister to others. Having received a special word of comfort from Jesus, Martha now turned her attention to her sister. John noted this carefully and wrote,

“And when she had said these things, she went her way
and secretly called Mary her sister, saying,
‘The Teacher has come and is calling for you.'”
John 11:28

Martha was wise in her attempt to comfort Mary. She understood her sister well. She did not attempt to speak to her about her conversation with Jesus. She would do that at leisure some other time. She knew exactly what to say to her sister to assuage the tides of grief that sought to sweep over her very soul.

There were many who were in their home. She had to get Mary away from the well-wishers. She needed to speak to her own sister in private. She summoned her sister so that they could have some moments together. She needed only to mention “The Teacher” and hope began to surge upward within the heart of Mary. But wait, there was more. “The Teacher” had come and He asked about her! What joy and thrill must have filled her heart at those words.

Mary’s response was immediate and also typical. If there was Someone she loved far more deeply than her brother, it was her Teacher. John noted her response.

“As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly
and came to Him.
Now Jesus had not yet come into the town,
but was in the place where Martha met Him.”
John 11:29-30

Mary also had been too caught up with her personal grief and sorrow! The Teacher was right in NOT coming to her home. She had to go to Him in faith and love!