Before Lazarus Died

     The bible tells us that when Lazarus was sick Mary and Martha sent for Jesus who was in a nearby town approximately 2 miles away. The bible doesn't tell us how long it was before Lazarus died that word was sent to Jesus. It only states that Lazarus had been dead four days by the time Jesus arrived. Tonight I lay thinking about Mary and Martha and how that situation applies to our everyday life. I feel sure they did not wait until Lazarus was taking his last breath before sending for Jesus

     So here was Mary and Martha, the beloved of Jesus. They know first hand of his power, his love and who He was. They had walked many miles with him and seen many miracles. They had seen lepers healed,  the lame walk, and the possessed become free. So surely healing Lazarus would be no great feat for Jesus.

     I, in my Christian life have tried and many times been close to the Lord in my day to day walk. I have seen through spiritual eyes, miracles and deliverance around me. Throughout our  lifes journey we all find ourselves at various degrees of closeness in our walk with the Lord.  It seems like circumstances have a way of imposing situations that place distance between us and where we want to be spiritually.

     I am sure that Mary and Martha would have preferred to be walking in close proximity to their Lord  with their healthy brother beside them. Instead they were needed to care for their ailing Lazarus.  As anyone would, I feel sure that upon hearing of the illness they became caretakers with hopes for a recovery.

     When I compare the situation to our everyday life I see many parallels. We think we are strong in our faith walking a spiritual path when something happens in our lives. It can be anything; health, money, children, marital problems, anything at all. when the problem first comes, we are not dismayed. We automatically think Jesus will solve the problem through our prayers.

     I can see Mary and Martha day in and day out getting more and more tired yet being faithful to their brother. They never waiver in their faith because they KNOW that Jesus can heal Lazarus. So they try to wait patiently for the Lord to arrive and make everything alright. Day after day they watch their brother suffer while his health declines and fades.  Nothing they do helps. In their minds they had to question "Where is He? Why doesn't He come?"

     How many times have we asked "How long Lord?  Why don't you answer my prayer? Why does this situation endure on when I am praying and trusting you for an answer?"

     Time means nothing to God. "A day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day". So that tells me that however long it was, days, months or years, that Mary and Martha waited is no different than the time we endure our problems. They felt separated from the Lord and unable to reach him in their time of need. How many times have we felt that way knowing that He could solve everything, but he doesn't seem to come.

    Time passed and their situation grew more dire by the day while they watched helplessly. Finally the worst happens. Lazarus dies.

     We, as flesh, war within ourselves. While the spirit tries to hold on, the mind and heart battle with disappointment, pain , grief, and confusion. They had to have all of these emotions.  I can imagine the emptiness they felt for the four days after his death. They knew beyond a doubt that the death and suffering of Lazarus could have been avoided. They had to feel let down. Hours grew into days. One day led to another. Jesus had not come.  When they needed him most, He was not there.

     When He finally made the short journey, the two sisters responded very differently. No where is it indicated that their love for Jesus was diminished. This encourages me because I know I always love the Lord although I may be confused or maybe even discouraged at times. So knowing they had to have the same feelings makes me feel like less of a failure.

     I said the two sisters handled the return of Jesus differently. It is strange that it would be Martha, "the complainer" who would rush to meet Jesus. She addresses him by say "If you had come my brother would still be alive." This statement is accusing. It says "If you had done what I asked, my brother would be alive and well. We would not have gone through all this hardship and grief." Don't we sometimes want to tell God  that He is not doing His part?  Even if we don't have the nerve to say it, don't you honestly feel it? "My suffering could have been avoided".

     Martha had to either be very brave or very disappointed to say this to the one she KNEW to be the Son of God. But she offers Him a way to redeem himself and at the same time try to reaffirm her own faith.
She states, " I know God will bring him back to life if you only ask it."  She could not deny even in her grief and disappointment who He was. She knew He was still the only hope.
  
     Mary on the other hand stayed at home when she heard Jesus was coming. This is the same Mary that sat at the feet of Jesus hanging on his every word. She washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. One so consumed with love for Jesus did not go out to greet him. I would have actually expected the opposite behavior of the two women. Mary had fallen into her grief and didn't expect anything more from Jesus. She loved Him, but why ask anything if He is not there when you need Him most? She had to be devastated.

     However Jesus was moved and told Martha "Your brother will live again" and sent her to bring Mary. Isn't it comforting to know that when we feel so lost and inconsolable, that Jesus is able to send the right person to remind us of who He is? When He does, we have only to obey His calling and be drawn to Him.

     Yes, we know Jesus brought Lazarus back to life. The bible says he wept at their sorrow. He loves us so much that it tears at His heart when we suffer. He knew their suffering, their doubts and their struggle to remain faithful.  It was not in their time. It was not how they wanted things to happen. But God did answer their prayers.

     I see two things in the resurrection of Lazarus not discussed. Had he been healed it would not have carried the same significance with the believers. Jesus healed many people in his ministry. It would have been considered miraculous but a more common act for Jesus. Life would have carried on with little difference.  But instead, think how much more precious was the gift of life, love and  family to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus after actually experiencing death.

     It also showed that Jesus will ALWAYS come. He knows everything that is going on in our lives every minute of every day. He may or may not come in the time frame of our choosing. But He cares enough to always come and he promises that He can always make good come from any situation. Even with Lazarus he has proven HE WILL NEVER FAIL US.