I'll be honest, as I sit here in week four of my son's absence from this world, I was struggling with seeing just how my current reality is any different than Martha's was. Her brother was dead. My son is dead. Jesus raised Lazarus to life on day four. My son is still dead at week four. I can't touch him, or talk to him, or hear him call me Momma in this life ever again.
But then...context. I think. Correct me if I'm wrong. In Martha's world Lazarus died and was in Sheol -- the pre resurrection reality for all who died. But I've been blessed to live in a post resurrection world where Christ has defeated death and my son entered Paradise and is present alongside Christ, right now. So, Martha (before Lazarus was resurrected) and I both have our current hope set on the horizon of a future reunion with our loved ones. But her definition of resurrection means something that's difficult to understand coming from a post-Jesus world? To Martha, resurrection meant something different than it does to me? When I think resurrection, I think of a bodily resurrection in the future. To her, what did it mean? It's like we're living in the halfway point. Souls are now present with Christ, but the complete resurrection is still coming? Am I making sense?
I happen to love this story. Thanks for bringing out more of its fullness. There’s another part that tends to get neglected, I think. Jesus weeping. Most seem to put it as Him being moved at witnessing the grieving of others, and I definitely think that’s a part of it, but I think there’s a part of it that might be rooted in some disappointment. Hear me out. The story is dripping in faith language and where that faith is placed. Mary and Martha both tell Jesus “if you had been here.” Even verse 11 comments on some other people saying the same. Jesus could have done something. They believed in the God of the past. When Jesus flat out tells Martha that Lazarus would rise again, she immediately assumes He’s talking about the future resurrection. The God of the future. No one anywhere in the story gives regard to the God of the present who stood right in front of them. Faith in the God of the present wasn’t on anyone’s radar. And once Martha objects to Jesus asking the stone to be rolled away, there a subtle rebuke, “Did I not tell you that IF you believed you would see the glory of God.” She believed He could have done something in the past. She believed that He could do something in the future. No one believed even at this late point in His ministry, that He could do something right now. Maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree here, but I think there’s a sense where He’s moved not just by the grieving of others, especially since He knew that He was gonna raise Lazarus up, but by that grieving in the context of their hopelessness and unbelief in Him to be able to do anything in the present circumstance. Really enjoyed this piece. Thanks again!
We’re living in a “day four” scenario right now! It’s day four: Will the rapture come or will we have a great revival, restoration, and reformation such as the world has never seen?
I'll be honest, as I sit here in week four of my son's absence from this world, I was struggling with seeing just how my current reality is any different than Martha's was. Her brother was dead. My son is dead. Jesus raised Lazarus to life on day four. My son is still dead at week four. I can't touch him, or talk to him, or hear him call me Momma in this life ever again.
But then...context. I think. Correct me if I'm wrong. In Martha's world Lazarus died and was in Sheol -- the pre resurrection reality for all who died. But I've been blessed to live in a post resurrection world where Christ has defeated death and my son entered Paradise and is present alongside Christ, right now. So, Martha (before Lazarus was resurrected) and I both have our current hope set on the horizon of a future reunion with our loved ones. But her definition of resurrection means something that's difficult to understand coming from a post-Jesus world? To Martha, resurrection meant something different than it does to me? When I think resurrection, I think of a bodily resurrection in the future. To her, what did it mean? It's like we're living in the halfway point. Souls are now present with Christ, but the complete resurrection is still coming? Am I making sense?
I happen to love this story. Thanks for bringing out more of its fullness. There’s another part that tends to get neglected, I think. Jesus weeping. Most seem to put it as Him being moved at witnessing the grieving of others, and I definitely think that’s a part of it, but I think there’s a part of it that might be rooted in some disappointment. Hear me out. The story is dripping in faith language and where that faith is placed. Mary and Martha both tell Jesus “if you had been here.” Even verse 11 comments on some other people saying the same. Jesus could have done something. They believed in the God of the past. When Jesus flat out tells Martha that Lazarus would rise again, she immediately assumes He’s talking about the future resurrection. The God of the future. No one anywhere in the story gives regard to the God of the present who stood right in front of them. Faith in the God of the present wasn’t on anyone’s radar. And once Martha objects to Jesus asking the stone to be rolled away, there a subtle rebuke, “Did I not tell you that IF you believed you would see the glory of God.” She believed He could have done something in the past. She believed that He could do something in the future. No one believed even at this late point in His ministry, that He could do something right now. Maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree here, but I think there’s a sense where He’s moved not just by the grieving of others, especially since He knew that He was gonna raise Lazarus up, but by that grieving in the context of their hopelessness and unbelief in Him to be able to do anything in the present circumstance. Really enjoyed this piece. Thanks again!
Diane another incredible teaching! Thank you, I need to believe in a day 4 messiah 😇
We’re living in a “day four” scenario right now! It’s day four: Will the rapture come or will we have a great revival, restoration, and reformation such as the world has never seen?
Wonderful piece. I have to admit that what I love about Miss Patty is that enormous, took-a-whole-can-of-Aqua-Net hairdo! 😀