JOHN 11:17-27 A FAITH ADJUSTMENT

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
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.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

Martha knows Jesus and has personally experienced his ministry. Even in the face of her brother’s death she confesses her faith in what Jesus could do, or could have done. The words "if you had been here,” are probably more of a lament than a rebuke of Jesus for his tardiness in responding, for it is followed by the clear statement of Jesus’ ability have his prayers answered; “I know even now God will give you whatever you ask.” This is a level of faith to which most of us can only aspire. Yet we see that it is still a misdirected faith.

Although believing in what Jesus can do is an important step in our faith journey, it is only a preliminary form of true faith. In words that Martha could not possibly comprehend fully at this point, but would soon experience, Jesus redirects her faith by saying, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Our faith is not to be in what Jesus can do, but in who Jesus is. Jesus does not only raise the dead, he is the giver of life because he is life. What Jesus gives us is himself, and therefore, we have life.

This life is an indestructible life that even death cannot alter. It is a life that begins with our acceptance of Jesus as our life and is continuous through the perils and pit falls of this physical life, and even through physical death. It is the faith in Jesus as the life that will sustain us even in our darkest moments and keep us faithful even when our most fervent prayers go apparently unanswered. The question of faith is, “Who is Jesus?” The question we all must answer is, “Do you believe this?”

Lord Jesus, mature my faith so that it is focused on who you are and not what you can do for me. Grow my understanding so that I will know you even when I cannot “see” you or seem to experience you in my life circumstance. May I live in the assurance of eternal life even today and may that assurance lead to a fuller witness of your glory in my life. Amen.