Anchor My Faith

Previous Lesson
Next Lesson
Author: Stephen Weller
640 words, 3 minutes read time

Martha Goes To Get Mary

Scripture: John 11:27-32

In the previous lesson Jesus claimed to be more than bringing about the resurrection or that he will be the cause of the resurrection. He claimed to be the resurrection and by being in him we have in a sense come into him, so at death we will be wherever he is since we are in him. In this lesson Martha goes and calls Mary.

^{Jn 11:27} “She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”’

She believed that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of God.” Those who believe “have come to know, that [Jesus] is the Holy One of God” (John 6:69 ESV); by believing we “have life in his name” (John 20:31 ESV); those “who believe that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God” (1 John 5:1 ESV); he that believes overcomes the world (1 John 5:5); unless you believe that “I am he you will die in your sins” (john 8:24 ESV). Martha didn’t say that she believed that Jesus was the resurrection.

Martha further believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, who is coming into the world. There is much unsaid about what she actually believed. Did she understand his coming at a later time with the kingdom of God or at the present as one who deliver them from control by Rome?

^{Jn 11:28} “When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”

Referring to Jesus as teacher was a natural way for any disciple prior to his resurrection. We see this in the following: ‘He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”’ (Matthew 26:18 ESV); “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.” (John 13:13 ESV).

Martha goes and tells Mary that Jesus has arrived and wants to see her. Considering how Martha responded to meeting Jesus, how do you suppose Mary will respond?

^{Jn 11:29} “And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. ³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him. ³¹ When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.”

Mary, upon hearing that Jesus had arrived, goes to Jesus who had not yet come into the village but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews, who were at the house consoling Mary, noticed that she got up and left quickly. They assumed she was going to the tomb to weep there, so they followed her as she went to meet Jesus.

^{Jn 11:32} ‘Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”’

When Mary met Jesus, she falls at his feet in worship before speaking to him. How often do we stop and worship God before we bring our request to him? After worshiping him, she then speaks her heart. Was it a rebuke or simply a statement of fact? She believed that had Jesus been there he would have healed him and prevented his death.

Conclusion

Martha has been challenged by Jesus concerning the resurrection. She expresses her belief and goes to get Mary.