Outside of Bethany, Lazarus’ sister Martha ran to meet Jesus saying, “If you had been here… my brother would not have died.” Such was her faith in Jesus’ ability to heal! Jesus responded to her faith by assuring her that Lazarus would rise again. Thinking she would have to wait until the end of time to see her brother again Martha replied, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” However, that was not the point Jesus was making so he replied to her, “I am the resurrection and life!” Then Jesus called her to faith saying, “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:21-24)

In this conversation we find there are a few issues Martha is dealing with. For one thing, she has complete confidence in Jesus’ ability to heal, but she is upset that He was not “there” when she needed Him. “If you had been here!” she blurts out. But what Martha forgot was that Jesus knew all about Lazarus’ illness and Jesus knew exactly how and when Martha’s brother would be healed. Also in this passage, the grieving Martha reveals that she considered time an insurmountable obstacle for Jesus. In effect, Martha was saying g, “It is too late to help Lazarus (the time is past), so now we must wait (allow more time).”

In His response, Jesus teaches us that neither death nor time is an obstacle for Him. Outside the tomb, “Jesus called out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ The dead man came out!” (John 11:43). It is one thing to claim to be the resurrection and the life, but Jesus proved He is these things by raising Lazarus, who had been dead four days.

Jesus’ statement that He is the “resurrection and the life” provides a godly perspective on several spiritual matters including the fact that Martha believed that the resurrection was an event. However, Jesus showed her (and us) that the resurrection is not an event, it is a Person. Jesus taught us that eternal life is not an abstract idea, but rather it is a personal relationship with Him. Victory over death is not only a future expectation; it is a present reality through Jesus Christ. “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)

How often do we feel like Martha? How often do we cry out to heaven, “Jesus where are You? If You were here, this wouldn’t be happening! Don’t You care?” When life overcomes us and we lash out at Jesus, “Why haven’t You shown up yet?”, we should turn to this passage and remember, Jesus is more powerful than the situation we are facing.