GOD Morning! I am Your Martha / March 27, 2017

GOD Morning!


I am Your Martha


March 27, 2017






John 11:1-29


The Death and Resurrection of Lazarus


11 Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, he [our brother and Your friend] whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death; but [on the contrary it is] for the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” 5 Now Jesus loved and was concerned about Martha and her sister and Lazarus [and considered them dear friends]. 6 So [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed in the same place two more days. 7 Then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), the Jews were only recently going to stone You, and You are [thinking of] going back there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours [of light] in the day? Anyone who walks in the daytime does not stumble, because he sees [by] the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him.” 11 He said this, and after that said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him.” 12 The disciples answered, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was referring to natural sleep. 14 So then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas, who was called Didymus (the twin), said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, that we may die with Him.”


17 So when Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away; 19 and many of the Jews had come to see Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning [the loss of] their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give to You.” 23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise [from the dead].” 24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise [from the dead] in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “[I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies; 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed and continue to believe that You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of God, He who was [destined and promised] to come into the world [and it is for You that the world has waited].”


28 After she had said this, she left and called her sister Mary, privately whispering [to her], “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” 29 And when she heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.


So Mary was sitting back at the house, shocked, hurt and confused. Her Savior, whom she adored, had let her down in her darkest hour.


Mary, the one who normally could be found sitting at the feet of Jesus. Mary, who normally would have run to meet Jesus. Mary, who had anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair.


She was devastated. Jesus, the Healer, had chosen to simply let her brother die.


Has Jesus ever totally and completely let you down?


Just when you knew that He would come through, everything immediately became much worse.


Martha ran to meet Jesus. She was the one who took action. She wanted to know what on earth was the hold up. She peppered Jesus with questions.


And Mary sat home. Stunned. How could He let her brother die?


Martha had to go back to the the house to tell Mary that Jesus was asking for her. Thankfully, Mary went to meet him. Thankfully, she didn’t become bitter and disillusioned. Thankfully, even in the midst of her grief, she answered His call.


Have you ever been hurt by God? Have you ever been in a place in your life where you had nothing but questions for Him?


“God, where are You in my darkest hour?”


“How could You let this happen?”


“Do You even love me?”


“Did I do something terrible to deserve this?”


I have heard that most atheists have either been hurt by religion or have felt like God has let them down. So their answer is simply to pretend that God doesn’t exist.


Wrong answer.


Thankfully, Mary didn’t stay in the house. Thankfully, she didn’t turn her back on Jesus.


Are you hurt and confused right now? Simply answer Jesus’ call. Run out to meet Him as Mary did. He has a miracle waiting for you.


I am your Martha today. I am sent to tell you that Jesus is asking for You. Please come out to meet Him. He has a miracle for you.





“Dear Jesus, someone reading this today is lost and alone. She doesn’t understand Your ways. She feels like You have let her down. And yet, You are right there waiting to take her in Your arms and hold her close. You have a miracle waiting for her. Please continue to draw her. Please continue to call her name. How I love You. How I adore You. Thanks ahead of time for the miracle You are going to do in her. In Your precious name I pray, AMEN.”