Putting it All Together

Scripture: “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:21-27

Observation: Jesus is on a mission to raise Lazarus from death, though no one understands that yet. As he enters Bethany, this is the greeting he receives from Martha. Despite the fact her brother has died, it is a greeting of complete and total faith. While living through the worst disaster of her life - the death of the man who was the caretaker to her and her sister, both unmarried - she declares belief in Jesus' authority over life and health, her understanding and faith that Jesus has total authority over everything else on earth, her understanding of eternal life through faith in Messiah, and her total belief that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah.

We have seen others "believe" in Jesus. They state a belief in his healing authority, or in his authority as a teacher. The disciples follow him in the belief he is Messiah and have so stated it. However, no one has gone as far as Martha. Martha effectively, over the course of about five sentences, declares the entire gospel message, perhaps summarized as well as any 'creed' the Church will later try to create to clarify Christian faith.

Martha says ... Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God. He has full authority over everything on earth and everything in heaven, and by faith in Jesus we will have everlasting life. She is the first to put it all together.

Application: The fact Martha's statement here doesn't get more attention in sermons and lessons is a little surprising, likely because it's overshadowed by what's about to happen next ... the greatest miracle of Jesus' ministry. However, like I said above, hundreds of years later the Church will summarize their core elements of faith - a statement today known as the Apostle's Creed - and the core of it is just what Martha said, elaborated by some of the elements of Jesus' ministry.

Martha and Mary appear multiple times in the gospels, and every time they are a lesson and example to me of how to both believe and respond to that belief. My life would be so much better if I tried to be like them.

Prayer: Lord, I think you for the lessons of Martha. May I always face every situation with the same faith she showed. Amen.