One of the gifts that becomes readily apparent in the gospel of John is how John focuses not only on the deity of his best friend, but also on Jesus’ humanity. Our Heavenly Father loves us and Jesus wanted the world to see that side of God. John knew that about His friend and as John recounted the events of Jesus’ life and ministry, he made it a point to reveal the ways God shows His love for us.
When Jesus approached Bethany, He was notified that Lazarus was already entombed, and had been so for four days. Mary and Martha were informed of Jesus’ approach. Martha rushed to meet Jesus, but Mary stayed behind. With the raw emotion of a pragmatist, Martha confronts Jesus hoping for a super special miracle. One could almost hear the irritation in her voice mixed with love and hope–“Jesus, if you would have come… “
More telling is Mary’s response. In this moment, Mary wore her feelings of betrayal prominently. She did not even go to meet Jesus. It was one of the loudest non-verbal scolding’s in the Bible, She said, in effect, “Really? Now you come after your friend has been dead for nearly a week?!”
Jesus, with the love of the Father, comforts Martha, “Your brother will rise again.” Through bitter tears she replies, “I know Lazarus will rise spiritually in the resurrection. Then Jesus speaks past her pain to her very soul and replies, in effect, Don’t you get it? “EGO EIMI the Resurrection and the Life. I AM God and God is the Resurrection and the Life.“
Next, Martha retrieves Mary. One can only imagine the words of pain and anguish exchanged between the sisters. But when finished, Mary rushes to the Lord. She literally breaks the Lord’s heart as she cries. The immortal God is in anguish to the core for His friends.
There was never a question on what the outcome would be–Lazarus was coming back. The critical piece in this story was taking away any question of the identity and heart of the Messiah! He was settling once and for all the fulfillment of His Father’s covenant to bring life back into a world of death.
It was intensely and emotionally difficult for the Lord to see His friends suffer. What a great picture of the Heavenly Father’s deep emotion as He watches us make this journey through the world. He knows us! He knows every twist and turn. Even though He knows the glorious outcome of our eternal life with Him, it is still real for Him to watch us battle life and its trials and temptations.
He walks with us as we face life. He hears our calls as we cry out in pain and overwhelmed confusion. As with Martha, He reminds us that He is EGO EIME—the great I AM. He is our Resurrection and our Life. Even when we become so hurt and bitter that we refuse to go to Him, as Mary did, He still loves us and completes His plan for our lives.
Our Lord brings life! He is Life, but as we do life, He allows the course of our life to have its full effect. In the overwhelming and difficult center of it, however, we must remember that the Lord hurts with us, even if He knows there will be great things in the end!
God Bless You
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] 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. 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.”
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.
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.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
Walking With God 