Mary & Martha, the 2 sisters, & Lazarus. 3 siblings; 3 friends of Jesus.
I assume Martha was the oldest; I identify with Martha. When Jesus visited, she was in the kitchen cleaning & cooking. With the rolling pin in one hand & the broom in the other she yells at Mary to help her, wondering why that child-like sister of hers can never seem to be bothered to help.
Then there's Mary. She lives unburdened by perceived & false expectations. This is why she lets her love pour out so freely at the feet of Jesus. When Jesus visits, she sees her older sister running around, who seemingly has everything under control & never things to offer help.
And Lazarus. The only son, lost between 2 sisters. The middle child, the in-between of 2 opposing forces. Yet fiercely loved by both. He doesn't speak much, and is rarely mentioned. But when he does, you pay attention.
They are the friends of Jesus - not his disciples but described as his 'dear friends'. And when Lazarus became ill, his sisters sent word to the best doctor they knew. They called in a favor to a 'dear friend'.
Yet when Jesus heard his friend became sick, he did rush back. He "still" stayed 2 days longer. This dors not look like the action of a man who loves his friends. His love seems directly contradicted by his inaction.
At the end of those 2 days, Jesus did make his way back, & was told Lazarus had already died.
Mary & Martha believed Jesus could heal their brother. When their brother was not healed, did this change who Jesus was or what he could do? Did this change what they believed about him? Did Jesus' delay indicate his lack of love?
When he asked to be brought to where Lazarus was buried, he wept. Grief is a powerful emotion. We grieve when what we cherished is gone. If his power to heal was still true, & he was grieved by Lazarus' death, then why didn't he prevent it?
This is a common questions when grief & tragedy strike - whether suddenly or not. We expect God to move on our behalf, & when he doesn't & allows the worst to happen, we are stuck wondering what why. We may even blame God. This was the case of Mary. When Jesus arrived, she rushed out to him, accusations flying - if he had come, this would not have happened.
If God grieves with us, & shares with our sorrow, then why does he not lift the tragedy? And when we believe in God to act a certain way, and he doesn't does this change who is he or what he is capable of doing. In this story, it does not end at death.
When Jesus arrived at the tomb of Lazarus, between labored sighs of sadness, he called for the door to be opened. He lifted up his voice, & called for Lazarus to come out. Despite Mary & Martha' greatest pain, their greatest blessing came & it surpassed their expectations. Had Jesus came & performed the miracle the sisters expected, we would not have the story lo Lazarus. Despite his seeming inaction, He had a greater purpose. We realize there was an even greater miracle he wished to perform.
God's nature doesn't change. Sometimes, we are too limited in our expectations. And once in a while, there must be death in order for there to be life.
Sometimes, God will allow us to walk down the darkest valley of our life, as recently allowed in my own life
Like Mary & Martha I expected God to perform based on truths we know.
The truth is God can, but sometimes he chooses no. When we don't see the expected outcome, we may even blame God. But even in the midst of our pain & fear, He grieves with us. He is waiting & allowing a death to occur, so he can bring a new life, a second chance.
Jesus' greatest miracle was Lazarus' second life. Ask yourself, What must God allow to die in my life? What is my second chance? Am I willing to walk through that journey? Am I open to waiting?
I assume Martha was the oldest; I identify with Martha. When Jesus visited, she was in the kitchen cleaning & cooking. With the rolling pin in one hand & the broom in the other she yells at Mary to help her, wondering why that child-like sister of hers can never seem to be bothered to help.
Then there's Mary. She lives unburdened by perceived & false expectations. This is why she lets her love pour out so freely at the feet of Jesus. When Jesus visits, she sees her older sister running around, who seemingly has everything under control & never things to offer help.
And Lazarus. The only son, lost between 2 sisters. The middle child, the in-between of 2 opposing forces. Yet fiercely loved by both. He doesn't speak much, and is rarely mentioned. But when he does, you pay attention.
They are the friends of Jesus - not his disciples but described as his 'dear friends'. And when Lazarus became ill, his sisters sent word to the best doctor they knew. They called in a favor to a 'dear friend'.
Yet when Jesus heard his friend became sick, he did rush back. He "still" stayed 2 days longer. This dors not look like the action of a man who loves his friends. His love seems directly contradicted by his inaction.
At the end of those 2 days, Jesus did make his way back, & was told Lazarus had already died.
Mary & Martha believed Jesus could heal their brother. When their brother was not healed, did this change who Jesus was or what he could do? Did this change what they believed about him? Did Jesus' delay indicate his lack of love?
When he asked to be brought to where Lazarus was buried, he wept. Grief is a powerful emotion. We grieve when what we cherished is gone. If his power to heal was still true, & he was grieved by Lazarus' death, then why didn't he prevent it?
This is a common questions when grief & tragedy strike - whether suddenly or not. We expect God to move on our behalf, & when he doesn't & allows the worst to happen, we are stuck wondering what why. We may even blame God. This was the case of Mary. When Jesus arrived, she rushed out to him, accusations flying - if he had come, this would not have happened.
If God grieves with us, & shares with our sorrow, then why does he not lift the tragedy? And when we believe in God to act a certain way, and he doesn't does this change who is he or what he is capable of doing. In this story, it does not end at death.
When Jesus arrived at the tomb of Lazarus, between labored sighs of sadness, he called for the door to be opened. He lifted up his voice, & called for Lazarus to come out. Despite Mary & Martha' greatest pain, their greatest blessing came & it surpassed their expectations. Had Jesus came & performed the miracle the sisters expected, we would not have the story lo Lazarus. Despite his seeming inaction, He had a greater purpose. We realize there was an even greater miracle he wished to perform.
God's nature doesn't change. Sometimes, we are too limited in our expectations. And once in a while, there must be death in order for there to be life.
Sometimes, God will allow us to walk down the darkest valley of our life, as recently allowed in my own life
Like Mary & Martha I expected God to perform based on truths we know.
The truth is God can, but sometimes he chooses no. When we don't see the expected outcome, we may even blame God. But even in the midst of our pain & fear, He grieves with us. He is waiting & allowing a death to occur, so he can bring a new life, a second chance.
Jesus' greatest miracle was Lazarus' second life. Ask yourself, What must God allow to die in my life? What is my second chance? Am I willing to walk through that journey? Am I open to waiting?