February 27, 2023 – Monday
John 11:25-27 NIV
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Comments
Last Friday, we covered 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Which ended with Jesus and His disciples departing for Bethany. Upon their arrival they found Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days (v17) and had died the day before. Bethany was only two miles from Jerusalem so many came to comfort Mary and Martha for their loss (v18-19).
Hearing that Jesus was coming Martha went to meet Him while Mary remained behind (v20). Upon meeting with Jesus, they had the following exchange, 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Martha knew Jesus could have prevented Lazarus’ death, if He had been there, but when Jesus said, Your brother will rise again, she did not grasp what He was saying and could only reference the resurrection promised at the last day.
Jesus sought to make things clear for her and said, 25 I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? Her reply was one of belief, 27 Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world. She understood, but not fully as it is clear she did not understand what was to happen very soon.
We are not told, but by the evidence of the next verse, Jesus asked Martha to send Mary out to Him for, 28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. Mary responded immediately and went out to meet with Jesus and amazingly those who had been with her comforting her, went with her expecting her to go to Lazarus’ tomb to mourn for him there, not unlike how people sometimes go to the gravesite of a loved one to mourn their loss.
Then, 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” She said almost exactly what her sister had said, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. He did not reply to this comment this time, but seeing her weeping and that of those who came with her, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled (v33) whereupon, He asked 34 Where have you laid him? And they replied, Come and see, Lord. It was at this point that 35 Jesus wept. Of all the commentaries on this short verse, Paul explains it best in Romans 10:15, 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Jesus had great empathy, tenderness, and compassion beyond our understanding for He was/is the Word made flesh. The word translated, wept does not mean wailing, but simply the shedding of tears. In Luke 19:41 we find He also wept over Jerusalem knowing its future.
Some saw Jesus’ tears for what they were, when the Jews who had accompanied Mary said, 36See how he loved him! But some of them asked the same question both Mary and Martha had asked, 37 Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying? Of course, He could have but He has something much more important to show them.
Bottom Line: God will do what God will do and will do it in His own time for His own reasons. Thus, we would do well to follow Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help us to always put our trust in You no matter our circumstances for Your Will will be done. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek