A Resurrection of Faith

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 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. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (John 11: 17-27).

Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many neighbors and friends came to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. But Jesus was not there for four days of their grieving. When Martha heard that Jesus was finally coming, she went out to meet him. She was pale, weary, and aching from grief. When she looked into His eyes she could not contain the grief that overflowed from her broken heart. The words sounded like a rebuke… “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”. You see, there had been two deaths in Bethany. There was the death of Lazarus and there was the death of Martha’s faith. Perhaps her words pierced her own heart and accused her of doubting the Master, because her next sentence was self-correcting… “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you”. Taken together, Martha’s words seemed to reveal that though she knew the Son of God could have saved her brother, she did not understand why He did not. Her focus was on the death of her dear brother and on the absence of her dear Lord Jesus. Her confrontation with Jesus revealed that her faith was dead and buried in frustration and despair. In His reply, Jesus gently but firmly redirected her focus beyond the painful present and toward the hopeful future. Without hesitating, Jesus drew Martha’s attention away from the darkness of her desperate circumstances and toward Himself, the light and light of men… “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Then He invited Martha to make a fresh declaration of faith in Him… “I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?” The effect was immediate. Out of the heart formerly consumed with grief and frustration poured an affirmation that Jesus is the Christ! Martha’s present hurt was instantly replaced with faith and hope. When she looked to Him in the midst of her trial, Jesus met Martha in her grief and revealed Himself as the Christ. She was reacquainted with the truth that in Christ there is truly life beyond death and she experienced a resurrection of faith.

Trials remind us that we are pilgrims on a journey through this inhospitable world on our way to our permanent home… “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Trials also test and refine our faith in Christ… “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). But trials can sometimes push us to the edge of the limits of our faith. There is a strong temptation to look away from Christ and get focused on the difficulties and darkness of the trials we are immersed in. Perhaps you’ve been there. Perhaps you are there today. Perhaps you are so immersed in a trial that you’ve given in to despair and you need a resurrection of your faith.

The Spirit reminds us today that Jesus is aware of our trials and He wants us to trust Him through them… “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). When we look beyond the trial to Christ, He will meet us and restore our faith in Him… “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). When we trust Him, Christ brings life to even our most desperate trials… “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).

As we grow up into Christ whenever life’s trials threaten to bury our trust in Him, He will grant us…  

A Resurrection of Faith.