He Sent Out His Word, and Melted Them: He Caused His Wind To Blow, and The Waters To Flow. - Part 1522

"But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give [it] thee." Jesus saith unto her, "Thy brother shall rise again." Martha saith unto Him, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said unto her, "I Am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Believe thou this?"

Martha saith unto Him, "Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, "The Master is come, and calls for thee." (John 11:22-28)

There is a message captured herein about the change that was occurring in Martha's heart. Here she was, grieving her brother Lazarus' death, focusing primarily on the worldly. In her despair, she (like her sister Mary) thought that had Jesus come earlier, their brother would have not died. But Jesus didn't come right away, as supposed, and as a consequence, Lazarus was soon dead and in the tomb. This is not to suggest that Martha did not believe what Jesus said. Indeed, it took some faith for Martha to tell Jesus that her brother would rise again in the resurrection at that last day, and that, "even now, whatsoever Thou [Jesus] wilt ask of God, God will give it to Thee." .

In response, however, Jesus does not just agree with her assessment of the situation. Rather, Jesus boldly proclaims to Martha, "Thy brother SHALL rise again." (John 11:23) But Martha knowing her brother is dead, acknowledges her earthly focus by saying to Jesus, "I know that [Lazarus] shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." What does Jesus say? He said unto her, "I Am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Believe thou this?" (John 11:25-26)

Certainly, Jesus poses an interesting question to Martha. For if we do not believe that Jesus is He --  both the resurrection and the life -- the Way, the Truth, and the Life - the Bread of Life -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending -- we will not have salvation, or inherit eternal life in Him. (John 8:24; Revelation 1:8, 11)

Honing back to Martha, we begin to see Martha's understanding of Jesus unfold."Yea, Lord, I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God which should come into the world." (John 11:27)

Clearly, Martha believed that Thou -- Jesus -- art the Christ! The promised Messiah. The Christ which would save us from our sins, by becoming the "perfect sacrifice" on the cross. Martha understood that Jesus was the long awaited answer to all of her/our worldly problems. And, as we know from reading the rest of John's account, Jesus did bring Lazarus back to life, even after his dead body had been in the tomb for four days. From Martha's vantage point then, she had a glimpse of who Jesus was, (even secretly telling Mary -- "The Master is come!")

Nevertheless, while her heart may have been in the transition of changing, note that Jesus still had to say to Martha, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou would believe, thou should see the glory of God?" (John 11:4, 40) And, that "this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." And, similarly, "Thy brother SHALL rise again." (John 11:23)

In fact, Jesus made no secret of what He intended to do. The miracle of Lazarus coming forth from the grave for the glory of God. Yet, Martha, like some others in attendance questioned why Jesus (which opened the eyes of the blind) had "caused that even this man [had] died?" (John 37; John 9:6-7)

[As an aside, it may be important to interject Luke's account of Jesus coming into a certain village and Martha receiving Him into her house. Mary was in attendance too and while she intently listened to Jesus, Martha cumbered about with much serving. At one point, Martha even comes to the Lord complaining that she had to serve alone. Jesus, responds by saying, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42)]

Thankfully, as we know, Martha does become much stronger in her faith, after seeing Lazarus come forth from the grave. And she did, as do those who "know Thy Name" also put her trust in Thee: "for Thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee." (Psalms 9:10) But the belief that she originally knew in her head -- that is, the Master is come -- only reached her heart once Lazarus sat at the table with them. (John 12:1-2)

But note the transition. Note how Martha's heart had changed. While Martha still served, she did so this time with a new song in her heart.

Like the psalmist David proclaimed, "One [thing] have I desired of the Lord; that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple, for in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion ..." (Psalm 27:4; Luke 2:37)

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trust[s] in Him, and I am helped: therefore, my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise Him." (Psalm 28:7)
Martha understood what Jesus meant when He said, "He that believes on Me as the scripture hath said, out of his belly [his INNERMOST BEING] shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38)

"Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." (Isaiah 12:3; Isaiah 43:20)

"For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessings upon Thine offspring."  (Isaiah 44:3)

"Ho, every one that thirsts, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price ..." (Isaiah 55:1)

Just like Martha experienced, Jesus prophetically promised that all who believe, and put their faith wholly upon Him would in turn receive of His Spirit too. (Mark 12:29-31; Deuteronomy 6:4) The Holy Ghost and Comforter within us, leading and guiding us into all truth. (John 14:6-31; John 15:26)

The Wisdom (or the Word) which was the predetermined counsel of God, was now manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13; Titus 3:4-7) It is this fleshly manifestation revealing God Himself as a Son -- this manifestation adequately displaying all the spiritual humanity dwelling within God Himself that makes the good news gospel message so empowering.

"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9; John 1:14; Titus 3:4-7)

"For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence ... for it pleased [the Father] that in Him should all fullness dwell." (Colossians 1:15-19)

The visible image of the unseen God. Having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him ... [that] you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and un-blameable and un-reproveable in His sight -- if ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard, and which was preached unto every creature which is under heaven." (Colossians 1:20-23)

Martha needed to understand that in the "much serving" of this world, she/we become cumbered and distracted. She/we become careful and troubled about many things that have nothing to do with salvation, or the saving of our souls. And, as a consequence of serving the earthly, our focus is less on this SAME JESUS who has the power to give us liberty -- if we would only stand fast and remain steadfast in Him. (Galatians 5:1)

Thankful, and rejoicing evermore for His goodness and grace and mercy.

"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world ..." (Ephesians 1:4)

Stand in the offering plate.