Even now
So now we know a little more about what the tone of Martha was in v21. Wow, who talks to Jesus like this in all of scripture? Who has this kind of revelation? This is a doer with the Spirit of God in the center. Let’s go and charge hell with a water pistol. Jesus can do anything. Martha knows it. She doesn’t say “I think” or “I hope” she says “I know” (also could be translated, see or perceive or comprehend). Is there a piece still missing for her though? She might have made the connection that Jesus is connected to God like an Old Testament prophet of her Bible, or even the predicted messiah, but does she see that he is God? How far can she see? Thomas doesn’t make it until after a more astounding resurrection - Jesus himself raised from the grave (John 20:28) when he declares “my lord and my God.”
And still we are not sure what Martha sounds like. The statement is bold enough. Is it “and please ask the father to give me my brother back”? Do we ever know exactly what God wants to do? All we can say is we know God is good and then we ask him for what we think is good. Lazarus coming back to life may not be a good thing; we don’t know until Jesus does it. It is only good because Jesus does it.
Comments