Title: Martha's Resurrection Faith/John 11:17-27
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Subject: Martha's Resurrection Faith
Text: John 11:17-27
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No matter how famous I am, no one paints with gold, and no matter how good a painter I am, no one paints with lilies. Today's text is a lesson like gold and a lesson like a lily that Jesus gives.
Lazarus was ill. Two brothers and sisters are waiting for Jesus. But the Lord is not coming. Eventually, his brother Lazarus died. So Martha and Mary, in great sorrow, lost hope and grieved, burying Lazarus
Everyone comes to this earth to live and die. They die from illness and accidents. When they die, they are buried. Our people do not understand what the Bible says about burial. We are a culture of earth, but they are a culture of stone. They have no soil, so they drill holes in the stones. And when the body is put in and the hole is sealed with a stone, the business is over. Because of the high temperature there, when a person dies, they are put into the grave the same day. Sing for 3 days. We accept mourners for 7 days. I spend 20 days thinking of the deceased without washing my face. Therefore, we need to understand that our circumstances and their funeral arrangements are completely different to understand these words today.
So, four days have passed since I had a business. Many Jews came to comfort Martha and Mary (v. 19). This is the condolence visit of the locals after the funeral. From this it is clear that Lazarus is dead. But while they were mourning like this, Martha heard that Jesus was coming (verse 20). When Martha hears this, she does not speak to her sister Maria, but continues with three consecutive actions: “listen,” “get out,” and “hit”. You can see him rushing out in a hurry. And I met the Lord.
What we learn from Martha today is that, first, as soon as we heard that the Lord was coming, we ran out to meet the Lord. Such faith, such faith that runs toward the Lord, is truly precious. Then he said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died” (verse 21). It contains two things. Had the Lord been here, Lazarus would have been ill but not dead. That is, we believe in the power of the Lord. And there is also the meaning of resentment that my brother died because the Lord did not come. Lord, why are you late? You have to ask the reason, but you are saying it unconditionally. This is Martha's first step faith.
Second, “But even now I know that if the Lord asks of God for anything, God will give it to him” (verse 22). It is a developed faith. This sister knows the power of prayer, the power of prayer, and the efficacy of prayer. It speaks of the omnipotence of God. They say, “Lord, save me.” After giving birth, I pray to God the Father to help me live as an answer to my prayer. This is still not knowing that Jesus is God. Knowing about the power of prayer and the efficacy of prayer, but showing it like this is Martha's second stage of faith.
Third, after this sister's story was over, Jesus said, 'Your brother will rise again' (verse 23). Regarding this, Martha makes a completely different voice, saying, “I know that she will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (verse 24). The Lord said that your brother should live now, but Martha said, “I know that the dead will be resurrected when Jesus returns.” This is Martha's third stage of faith.
The Lord speaks again. It is not the last day, but now, and the famous saying, words like gold, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (verses 25, 26). You did. This was not asked of Martha, but of you. How would you answer? These words say that Jesus Himself is the resurrection and the life. Jesus is the first cause of resurrection, Jesus is the source of life, Jesus is the source of life, Jesus is the conqueror of death, and Jesus is the one who holds the key to unlock the tomb. I am the resurrection and the life. It does not mean that we do not enter the second death.
When Jesus asked if you believe this because the resurrection itself is life, Martha said, 'It is not so' and added one more. It is a confession of faith, saying, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who is to come into the world” (verse 27).
Up until now, I thought I was a man, but rather, the Lord is the Savior and the Son of God. This is the fourth level of faith.
Finally, as he meets and talks with Jesus, his faith gradually increases. This sister confessed that she believed in the transition from knowledge to belief, faith in the resurrection, and the Messiah as the Savior and God.
I hope that the saints today will have the faith to run before the Lord like Martha. Although he died like Lazarus, I hope that the people around him will have the sublimated faith that he believes in his sister's confession of faith and knowledge based on the foundation of faith. And I hope that the 40-day Great Awakening Prayer Meeting will become the spark of prayer.
I hope that those who believe today will live even if they die, and that those who live and believe will never die. I hope that you will become all the saints who bear this faith in eternal life and resurrection and testify of this word to those around you who do not have faith.
“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25,26).