Slices
Prepare
How would you have responded to Jesus’ ‘delay’ in visiting Lazarus?
Bible passage
Jesus comforts the sisters of Lazarus
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 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.’
Explore
Have you ever woken up one morning and been greeted with blanket fog? Fog can be beautiful but also troubling. Driving in thick fog can be disconcerting, for example, even dangerous. Yesterday we saw the ‘fog’ of the confused disciples. They were bemused by Jesus’ actions and words. Why delay visiting Lazarus? Why the talk of falling asleep? Today we are introduced to Lazarus’ sister Martha who is also living in the fog of the same troubling and painful situation.
Martha rushes out to meet Jesus as he nears her home and immediately confronts him: ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died’ (v 21). She is in a deeply painful moment with the death of her brother and Jesus’ seeming indifference. She expresses herself and yet this expression of pain is accompanied by a deep declaration of trust in Jesus: ‘But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask’ (v 22). Like a bright torch piercing through the fog, Martha offers a light of trust through the mist of uncertainty.
Martha’s example of faith is a profound and moving one to us. She openly and honestly expresses her frustration and confusion, yet also her overriding trust in the goodness and sovereignty of God.
Respond
Trusting Jesus in painful, confusing or frustrating circumstances can be one of the greatest challenges to our faith. Whatever situation you find yourself in today, follow the example of Martha who expresses trust amid uncertainty.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 17–20; Titus 1
Pray for Scripture Union
With the ever-increasing speed of change in Information Technology, Database Manager Gill Russell asks us to pray for wisdom and knowledge in planning data and IT strategies, so that we can make the most efficient use of new technology to support the digital infrastructure within the movement.
