John 11:1-27
Dear RTB’ers,
Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead – His greatest miracle. We all know the story, so I’ll post just a couple of side comments. First, Thomas: So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (v. 16) Thomas is often known as “Doubting Thomas” because of his refusal to believe in Jesus’ Resurrection until he saw Him himself: “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” (John 20:25b) Thomas seems to be anything but doubtful in today’s reading!!
Second, Martha: “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, Who is coming into the world.” (v. 27b) This is the same Martha who complained to the Lord about her sister not helping with the housework: “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” (Luke 10:40b) Yet in today’s reading Martha’s profession of faith is as strong a statement as that of any other person that we read in the gospels. You are the Christ!!
Two people, each speaking words that are not consistent with how we typically view them. Makes me wonder about my own preconceived notions that I have of other people…
Blessings.
See also:
A couple of pairs of verses stand out for me today:
Note that it is because Jesus loves Martha, Mary, and Lazarus that He delays going to them. And He is glad that He isn’t around to heal Lazarus before death.
So often we think we know what is best for us, and when God doesn’t do what we want in the timeframe that we would like, we think He doesn’t care or that He is cruel. But we are so utterly mistaken in such ideas. Rather, He always does what is best, addressing our deeper need for Him rather than our (poorly) perceived desires. Maybe we should think on that a bit.