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John 11:28-37 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” John 11:28-37 recounts a powerful moment in the life and ministry of Jesus, where we see not only His dominion over death but also His deep compassion for those who are suffering. This passage brings us to a pivotal point in the story of Lazarus, as Jesus interacts with Mary and the grieving crowd, demonstrating His heartfelt pity. Jesus Calls Us in Our CalamityWhen Mary was mourning her brother’s death, Martha came to her and said, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you” (John 11:28). Even in the midst of sorrow, Jesus calls us to Himself. His voice is present in our pain, offering hope and comfort. Do we recognize His voice in our struggles? Romans 8:16 reminds us, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” We must listen for His call, just as Mary did, and respond with faith. We Come to Him to Be Comforted Mary’s response was immediate—she arose quickly and came to Jesus. She knew where true comfort was found. The Bible assures us in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 that God is the “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” When we face hardship, we must seek Him, knowing that He alone can provide the peace our hearts long for. As Mary reached Jesus, she fell at His feet, saying, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). Her words echo the cry of many hearts—longing for God’s intervention in suffering. Yet, even in her sorrow, she came to the right place: the feet of Jesus. Like Mary, we are invited to come to Him with a hearing heart, a hurting heart, and an honoring heart. Jesus Weeps With Us John 11:35, the shortest verse in Scripture, carries profound meaning: “Jesus wept.” His tears were not a sign of helplessness but of deep compassion. He groaned in His spirit, moved by the pain of those around Him. His reaction shows us that God is not distant from our suffering; He enters into it with us. Jesus’ response to death and sorrow reminds us that He understands our grief. Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us that we have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses, inviting us to approach Him for mercy and grace in our time of need. The Invitation to Trust Through this passage, we see a Savior who not only has power over death but also a heart that is tender toward the brokenhearted. Mary’s story encourages us to listen for Jesus’ call, come to Him for comfort, and trust in His compassionate heart. No matter what sorrow we face, we can be assured that Jesus is near, weeping with us and working for our good.
Will you trust Him today? He calls you to come, to believe, and to live.
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John 11:18-27 (NKJV) Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now 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 of 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 at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever 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 to come into the world.” In John 11, we witness one of the most powerful moments in Jesus’ earthly ministry—His dominion over death as He raises Lazarus from the grave. This chapter reveals the depth of Christ’s love, His divine power, and His promise of eternal life. Today, we focus on John 11:18-27, where Jesus assures Martha that He is “the resurrection and the life.” The Painful Reality of DeathDeath is an inescapable reality. We all experience the sting of loss, just as Martha and Mary did when their brother Lazarus died. They had prayed, they had hoped, and yet their brother succumbed to illness. Their grief is evident when both sisters tell Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21, 32). Like them, we sometimes struggle to understand God’s timing. But Jesus had a greater plan—one that would reveal His power in a way they had never imagined. The Promise of HopeEven in her grief, Martha demonstrates remarkable faith. She declares, “But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You” (John 11:22). She believes in Jesus’ ability to intercede but does not yet grasp the fullness of His power. Jesus responds with a life-changing promise: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). This is the heart of the gospel. Eternal life is not just a future hope—it is a present reality for those who believe in Christ. A Present ReminderMartha believed in a future resurrection, but Jesus was calling her to trust in Him now. He was not just a teacher of life—He is life itself. This truth remains for us today. Jesus’ resurrection power is not limited to a distant event. It is active in our lives, transforming our hearts and assuring us of our eternal hope. When we place our faith in Him, death is no longer the end but a passage into everlasting life. Do You Believe This?Jesus’ question to Martha is the same one He asks each of us: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26). The promise of resurrection is not just a theological concept—it is a personal invitation to trust in Christ completely.
As we reflect on this passage, let us anchor our faith in Jesus, the One who has dominion over death. In Him, we find not only hope for the future but life abundantly in the present. |
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