Thoughts for the Day

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Yesterday we started the story of Lazarus of Bethany, who had fallen ill and subsequently died, and we saw how Jesus delays going to save him because, as he said it would lead to "God's glory!" (Lazarus: 1). In today's reading we learn that Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days. We have met Marth and Mary before. In Luke's Gospel (10.38-42) they are present in the house when Jesus arrives with his disciples. Mary sits at his feet in the accepted position of a disciple, leaving Martha to do all the work of preparing a meal for everyone, but Jesus commends Mary for her action.

So bearing this in mind notice what happens this time. It is Martha who leaves the house to go ahead to meet Jesus, leaving Mary to cope with those who have come to console them in their grief. It is Martha, who greets Jesus - there is no reproach or blame that he didn't arrive in time to heal Lazarus - just complete confidence that he could have healed him and even after four days could ask his Heavenly Father to heal him. Her misunderstanding produces the most beautiful of words from Jesus, words that we use again and again at funerals. Jesus says:

• "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."

Martha's words in answer to Jesus' question "Do you believe this?" should be burned into our hearts this Lent. May we join with her in saying confidently:

• "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world."

Lord Jesus Christ,
You came into the world to save us,
yet all too often we have rejected You.
Forgive us,
and give us the confidence to say with Martha
You are "the Son of God",
Then may we learn to put all our trust
in Your plans for our lives
and for our world.
Amen.