That Inner Ache…
Lazarus was dead. Jesus had been told days before of his friend’s illness, but he hadn’t come as Mary and Martha expected. Where was He? Why hadn’t He come? Now, instead of looking forward to the nearing Passover celebrations, Mary and Martha would be mourning their brother. He had been in the grave for four days and all hope seemed to be lost.
The two women ached on the inside. Oh, how they longed for Jesus. Oh, how they longed for their brother. What could cure the pain of their suffering, and why hadn’t Jesus replied when they sent for Him? Where was He? Suddenly, there He was. Jesus had come! Martha ran to Him. “If only you had been here Jesus, my brother would not have died, but even now I know that whatever you ask of God, He will give you” Was there still hope? Was there hope that could cure something as incurable as the ache of death? Was there hope in Jesus?
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world” “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
Thanksgiving
Jesus, as many of you know, raised Lazarus from the dead, and Mary and Martha did see God’s glory. Now, six days before the Passover, they all found themselves together again for a meal. Can you imagine the overflow of their hearts as they served Jesus?
He had come! The One they waited and longed for, this friend Jesus, came and removed the pain of their suffering and the sting of death. Can you picture the joy of having their hope realized and aching hearts restored? Can you imagine knowing that their savior, the Son of God, was right there with them, and that He had cared enough to hear their cries? It would be difficult to find words to express the gratitude of Mary and Martha for having their beloved brother back and their likely destitution reversed. It is no wonder that Mary would pour out a costly perfume at the feet of Jesus to show her appreciation. It is no wonder that she would cover his feet with her tears and wipe them down with her hair…
The Hope of Glory
Was this the full glory that Jesus spoke of though as Jesus stood beside Lazarus’ tomb? Was his intention to save just one man and take away the sting of only one death? Certainly not. This story paints such a picture for me of the incredible goodness and glory of God. Before Jesus’ death, before his arrest, before his prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane, came Lazarus. John 15:13 tells us that ‘Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.’ And that is exactly what Jesus did. It was this miracle resurrection of his friend that sealed Jesus’ fate among the religious elite. It was with this act that he laid down His life unto death.
Encouragement
I don’t know what suffering or aching you are experiencing right now in this year or in this season. I do not know if you are like Mary and Martha, longing for Jesus or some other loved one, and I do not know if your suffering or destitution seem irreversible. What I do know though, is that Jesus is not far off.
The delay in Jesus’ coming was not to harm Jesus’ beloved friends. It was simply the way Jesus had to come so that He could take the sting of death from more than one man. I know you might be aching right now, but I implore you to hold on. He is not withholding His love, but he is doing what is necessary to reap the fullness of His reward. He is longing for all to hear His call to come follow Him and to enter his kingdom as children and friends. Let us look ahead with confident hope in our friend Jesus’ coming. Let us work to accomplish his will, and let us worship together with thanksgiving until the day when we get to sit at his table restored.
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