Nothing Less

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “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.” (John 11:20-24)

Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus fell sick and died. Jesus even after knowing that Lazarus was sick stayed away from him for he knew that this sickness will reveal the glory of God in a mighty way. In the above verses we see that Jesus was coming to meet the grieving sisters Martha and Mary. Martha runs out and meets Jesus and lets Him know that Lazarus would still be alive if He had come earlier, nevertheless she continues to say that God will give whatever Jesus asks. Sounds like good faith,eh? Read on. Jesus replies Your brother is coming back.

Martha as we read in Luke 10:38-42 is a worrier. She doesn't seem pretty excited when Jesus says that Lazarus will be back from the dead, instead talks about the last day's resurrection. The point we need to understand here is, Jesus on one hand is ready to bring back Lazarus whereas Martha on the other hand is willing to settle for something less, maybe a means by which she and her sister could survive without Lazarus. Martha said that God will give whatever Jesus asks which means it includes getting the life of Lazarus back. That's exactly what Jesus offered. But Martha just didn't seem to get it. She had a mentality, just like some of us have at times, to settle for something less than what God has to offer. Maybe, if Jesus had said I will ask God to keep filling your kitchen with provisions like Elijah did to the widow, she would have happily accepted. Jesus is offering to bring back his dead brother but all she is worried about is finding a way to survive without him. Let's not be like Martha or Abraham for that matter, decided to settle for something else, by having a child through a slave when God had promised Isaac through his wife. Or in Elijah's case, when he ran away from Jezebel and prayed that his life be taken away, that he may die. Ironically, Elijah wasn't supposed to die but to be taken away to heaven in a 'chariot of fire'. Thankfully, God sent an angel, strengthened Elijah and made sure he didn't settle down for anything less than what God had planned. What a loving Father we have as our God. Even when we sometimes try to settle for less like Martha, Abraham or Elijah, God doesn't allow us to. He sends down His word, an angel or by whatever means pulls us through to the finish line.


Blessings!