In John 11 starting in verse 17, Jesus comes to the tomb of Lazarus. Martha heard that Jesus was on the way and goes out to meet him. Keep in mind that at this point her brother had been dead for four days. She had sent word to Jesus to come because he was sick. Most likely, by the time the message was received by Jesus, Lazarus had already died. Martha gives us one of the most powerful confessions in the gospels at one of the hardest times in her life. Jesus by all appearances has failed. At the same time, her brother is dead. Anyone that has lost someone close to them can tell you how painful this is. So maybe we can't fault her for her first words, which are in verse 21 "Lord", Martha said to Jesus, "If you had been here, my brother, would not have died."
Sounds in some ways like a criticism, but you don't see Jesus ridicule her for this. In fact, even in the middle of her complaint is a statement of faith. "But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." It might be easy for us to think that she expected Jesus to raise him from the dead. I don't think that was actually the case. Even though she is a believer in the resurrection, she objects when Jesus tells them to roll the stone away. verse 39.
What then was she expecting of Jesus at this time? I've often wondered about that.
I don't know what Jesus was thinking any more than I know what Martha or Mary was thinking. I know what I would have been thinking. But, I haven't seen Jesus personally heal people who were born blind or lame or full of leprosy either. It is easy for us to transfer our reaction on the people in the Bible. But, I do know that Martha makes this wonderful confession of faith in the middle of her pain "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." verse 27. That's pretty powerful stuff. Nothing weak about it.
That doesn't mean that Martha had it all figured out. Later, at the cross, she was most likely watching again from a distance. Her confession appears to hold fast even to resurrection morning. The interesting thing about this is that often times it still appears as though God shows up late. It appears that God may be sleeping at the wheel. God doesn't respond like we think he should. He shows us four days late and a nickel short. Forgive me if I sound harsh. It is hard to make sense of things sometimes on this side of heaven. Much like Job had trouble understanding the realities around him when he felt like he didn't deserve it. Some people seem to get the elevator and others the shaft. Maybe you feel that way too.
Being a believer doesn't mean we have it all figured out. It doesn't mean we always are having a good time. Contrary to the popular name it and claim it gospel, it doesn't mean we will always be happy or rich or appear wise. Remember Joseph? Joseph was said to be a man who God was with, yet he was sold into slavery by his brothers and then falsely accused and sent to prison. Life is not always fair. Somehow it the middle of all this, I have to believe that God will someday make things right. God will someday bring things to an end. God will someday have the last word. It is good to know the one who sits on the throne.
