Distance Devotions – March 25, 2020

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

As we read this chapter, we are smitten with many deeply spiritual truths. For instance, we are told that Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. What a blessing to know that He is interested in mere mortals and not only in a distant manner, but in a personal and intimate way. Lest we get too far afield, let us focus on the interplay between Martha and Jesus then Mary and Jesus. We usually consider Martha to be the less spiritual of the two sisters. In John, chapter 11, she apparently rushes out when she learns that Jesus is coming and she seems to confront Him with the death of her brother, Lazarus. Contrast this with Mary’s approach. She waits for Him to send word through Martha that Jesus wishes to see her. When Mary comes to where Jesus is, she falls at His feet and says exactly the same words Martha used. “…Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”

Many have looked at Martha’s words and actions and seen her as accusatory or at the least as complaining. Mary’s words exact a groan from the lips of the Son of God. But, let me point out some thoughts to you. Martha, for all of her faults, was the one who elicited one of the most wondrous statements ever heard: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live….” Think of how many people have been blessed by those words. Had not Martha hurriedly and with anguish of heart cried out to the Lord, she might well have missed hearing those comforting words about the resurrection.

Mary, with an obviously warm yet broken heart of devotion, cried out to the Savior. She didn’t hear Him declare Himself to be the resurrection, but she did see Him weep. She learned through His tears that his love was real. There was a deeper purpose that she would have to wait to see, but He would not leave her without comfort and revealed His heart to her as she had revealed hers to Him.

Dear Christian, do not worry about past failures. You cannot live in them. Look forward to His promises and remember He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He is still all that He claimed to be and still has a real love for us.

Pastor F. J. Weems III