Tag Archives: Resurrection

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

MARTHA, MARTHA, MARTHA (An Amazing Woman who Lived in the Shadow of Mary)

martha-and-mary-2MARTHA, MARTHA, MARTHA (An Amazing Woman who Lived in the Shadow of Mary)

It tends to get a little confusing, and to be honest I had to recheck my own facts, because it seems the Bible loves the name, Mary. When reading through the Gospels, if your not careful, you may think you are reading about Mary, the mother of Jesus, in one story Mary Magdaline in the same account or believe that either one is Mary, the sister of Martha. But when it comes to Martha most people often remember her as the “complaining” woman who needed help in the kitchen while her sister (you guessed it) Mary was carefully listening at Jesus’ feet. Like an episode from the Brady Bunch everything seems to be about Marsha, Marsha, Marsha (or for our purposes Mary, Mary, Mary). And just when begin to think of Martha as the equivalent of Jan you may want to think again.

In no way diminishing her sisters zeal, for Jesus, Martha stands as a remarkable woman that possessed the faith to believe in the power at the disposal of Jesus. In the Biblical account we read Martha’s brother, Lazarus, had died from a sudden illness. Though Lazarus had been dead for several days we also read that Martha not only believed that if Jesus had been present He could have healed her brother, but that Jesus had an supernatural intimacy with God that could still revive Lazarus. In a time when we read of doubting disciples, hiding disciples and a treacherous disciple Martha lived a life that comprehended the Kingdom of Heaven had burst into everybody’s reality through Jesus. When loss was at it’s closest (her brothers death) her faith was not deterred in a future inheritance for all who believed. Therefore, her remarkable words still speak to us today, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ …”

In this exchange of faith, Kingdom power and the pending supernatural resurrection of Lazarus Jesus’ words to Martha speak even more loudly to us today when he says, “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26 MSG)

Is there something in Martha’s story in which Jesus may be dealing with you? Last week I shared how I was embarking on a new journey of faith and now as I have “pulling away from port” Jesus is educating me into personal intimacy with Himself. How ‘bout you? I would like to encourage you to not only allow Jesus to ask the question he asked Martha, “Do you believe?” but be bold enough to answer with certainty, “I know!”
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To believe is to allow your faith to actually commit to an action. Since the Bible tells us faith without works is dead we need to be those who not only mentally believe in Jesus, as Lord, but commit ourselves to abandon all that would dissuade our faith and action in Him as the resurrection and life.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

I included this brief clip from my favorite Jesus movie that I feel captures this moment wonderfully. Enjoy! Jesus, Martha and Lazarus

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

Shhh…THE ANSWER DISCOVERED IN GODS SILENCE

Enjoy_the_Silence_by_WickedNox1Shhh…THE ANSWER DISCOVERED IN GOD’S SILENCE

“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, but oddly, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed on where he was for two more days. After the two days, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.” (John 11:6 MSG)

What happens when silence has a big meaning? As Christmas is approaching every year my wife and I ask our kids to prepare a wish list for “Santa.” Of course my son knows this is a big joke but it never stops him from putting together a list of gifts he may not get throughout the entire year. Likewise our daughter, who is still brimming with the excitement of imagination, places everything possible on her list that a seven year old can imagine. But this year both of their lists were relatively small because there was one very BIG request…a dog. Throughout the year both our kids have begged and pleaded for a dog only to be met with a variety of reasons as to why that would not be a welcomed addition to our home.  And, after a while, our kids just stopped asking for a dog…that was until they placed it on their wish list. Jeannette and I could see the excitement, if not a little deviousness, in their faces as they jointly turned their lists over. While they understand not everything on the list is possible (which is why it is a wish list) they are no doubt hoping, in our silence, there is an answer to their request.

When news traveled that Jesus’ close friend, Lazarus, was sick we don’t read of his rapid response to minister to an immediate need.  Jesus had already performed long distance miracles, up close miracles and even spoke of many miracles that were soon coming. But in this one story Jesus waited in a type of silence. I’m sure, to many around Him, his indifference was puzzling? Why the delay? Why the silence? Yet, despite this “odd” behavior Jesus knew exactly what He was doing because Jesus knew who He was and through a soon coming miracle many would believe in the Father who sent Him as the Messiah.

CONSIDER YOUR DAYS OF SILENCE. Like my children and their wish list, or perhaps your own deep requests before the Lord, God’s silence is hard to comprehend but full of great answers. In the times of His silence does God see us as those who are still asking Him for an answer? Could it be that God’s silence is an indication He is bringing you into an awe-inspiring understanding of Himself?

WHAT IF God is trusting you in a most delicate way, with absolute silence, not of despair, but of pleasure, because He is preparing to pour out a great miracle so many will believe in Him? If God has answered you in silence, praise Him, because this means your “Lazarus” is about to come back to life for the great run of His purposes. The answer to “When?” and “How?” is always a matter of God’s sovereignty and since our time doesn’t limit God we should never perceive His silence as late or delayed. God always arrives with perfect timing.
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ASPIRE TO allow God’s silence to develop deep within where you come to a place saying, I know God has heard me. When Jesus finally arrived at Bethany He said, “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?” Martha replied,  “Yes, Master. All along I have believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who comes into the world.” (MSG)

In the silence Gods answer is speaking. Do you have the faith of Martha to believe?

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA