Meditation 250
John 11: 1-45
This story of the raising of Lazarus from death has a long introduction. We are given some information about Lazarus’ family, we are told that they sent word to Jesus of Lazarus’ illness, we hear of the leisurely way that Jesus takes to get to Bethany, and of the interaction Jesus has with the sisters of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. The scene is well set before the miracle happens.
As I was thinking about this story and wondering what aspect to share today, I began to think about Mary and Martha. They were friends of Jesus and they asked for help when their brother was ill. They had lived in a time when the certainty of recovery from illness was slim. There were fewer treatment options than we have, and no understanding of germs and the spread of disease. Lazarus was ill and his sisters sent word to Jesus. They knew that Jesus was a loved friend, they knew that Jesus had healed others, and they probably hoped that Jesus would rush to Bethany and heal their brother. In spite of the hopes that Mary and Martha had, Jesus had a different plan, and he waited two days longer before he started to go to Bethany.
If I had been in the place of these sisters, I know I would have wondered why Jesus was taking his time. I would have prayed and questioned, and asked why Jesus could be there for strangers, but not for a friend. When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Martha said “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Martha then goes into the house to fetch Mary, who we are told got up quickly and went to Jesus. Mary said the same thing to Jesus that Martha did, and Jesus then asks to be taken to where Lazarus had been laid. The sisters were full of grief and probably full of questions and Jesus meets them where they are.
The day that Lazarus died was probably one of the worst days in the lives of Mary and Martha. In their worry they had turned to Jesus for help, and the help they had in mind did not arrive. In their grief they met Jesus and told him that if he had been there their brother would not have died. We don’t know the tone of voice they used when they said this. They may have been angry, they may have been sobbing, they may have been so overwhelmed that their voices were toneless and their eyes dull. We do not know exactly how the sisters were feeling, but we do know that Jesus met them where they were, and he wept with Mary.
We, like Mary and Martha, can bring our lives to Jesus. Whatever it is we are feeling, we can bring it to Jesus with confidence that Jesus will meet us as he did Mary and Martha. Our worries and sorrows can be shared with Jesus as well as our joys and hopes. As the hymn writer said, we can take it to the Lord in prayer.