Martha

Sitting on the floor of my home, grief rips my heart. Our brother is dead. How can this be? My sister sits with me as we weep.  We no longer have a large family; it is just her and me. People come and go, bringing food and sitting with us. Regardless, the room is quiet. Are there any words? The past week or so has been a blur. Our brother was critically ill, so we sent word to the Teacher, a personal friend of ours. He has power to heal and we needed Him to come quickly.  He never came. Now our brother is gone. It is too late.

I have many fond memories of the Teacher in our home. As an itinerant Rabbi, He has no home of His own.  He and the men who follow Him, His disciples, either sleep outdoors in the countryside, or in homes where He is invited as a guest.  Since our village of Bethany is less than two miles from the Temple in Jerusalem, He often eats and rests here. I like to think that He feels at home and comfortable with us.

I will never forget one time He and His followers were gathered in our courtyard.  Everyone was intently listening to Him. Although most of His followers are men, He allows women to listen to His teaching as well.  On this particular day, I felt overwhelmed while serving the meal. Needing my sister’s help, I see her sitting at the feet of Jesus.

So I speak up, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.”

He responds to me, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen well, and it will not be taken from her.”

Even as He corrected me, He spoke with such tenderness.  It was not a rebuke, but an encouragement to remember listening and following Him must take priority over everything else.

My daydreaming ends as one of my neighbors leans down and whispers to tell me the Teacher is coming. I get up and hurry to meet Him on the outskirts of the village. Once our eyes meet, I pour out my heart,

“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.

Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

He responds, “Your brother will rise from the dead.”

“I know that he will rise from the dead in the resurrection on the last day,” I reply.

Then came the words, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes and trusts in Me as Savior will live even if he dies; and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.  Do you believe this?”

I answer, “Yes, Lord, I believe You are the Messiah, the Son of God. You are the One. It is for You the world has waited.”

I walk back to our home and whisper to my sister, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” She quickly goes to Him, and falls at His feet, saying, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

We look into His compassionate eyes, tears well up in them and slide down His cheeks. We know how deeply He loves us.

“Where have you laid him?” He asks.

We lead Him to the tomb, a cave with a boulder covering the entrance.

The Teacher says, “Take away the stone.”

Quickly I remind Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an offensive odor, for he has been dead four days!”

He responds to me, “Did I not say to you that if you believe in Me, you will see the glory of God?”

Several men move the stone.  The Teacher raises His eyes toward heaven and says, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I know that You always hear Me, but I have said this because of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You have sent Me, and that You have made Me Your representative.”

Next, His voice booms, “Lazarus, come out!”

At the entrance of the tomb stands our brother! His hands and feet are still wrapped tightly with the linen burial strips, and the burial cloth wraps around his face.

The Teacher says, “Unwrap and release Him.”

There before our eyes, stands our brother.  The Teacher has not forgotten us.  We thought He was late, but He was just on time.  He demonstrated His power over our worst enemy, death itself. He is the Resurrection and the Life.  He gives us His Life, so we are always alive in Him, now and throughout eternity.