The Gospel of John: John 11.17-37

Read and meditate on John 11.17-22.
Jesus arrived, but not quite to Bethany. He allowed the grieving sisters to come to Him in private, so that He could enter their grief with them, observe and renew their faith, and prepare them for what He was about to do. Martha was the first to arrive.

                                    ¹⁷And it was so,
when Jesus came, He found that he had been
already four days in the tomb by then.
¹⁸Now Bethany was near Jerusalem,
about two miles away. ¹⁹And many then
among the Jews came with the women to
give comfort to the dead man’s sisters, who
were mourning. ²⁰Just as soon as Martha heard
that He was coming, she went to the Lord,
but Mary stayed at home. ²¹Then Martha said
to Jesus, “Had You been here, now, instead
of dying, Lazarus would be still alive.”
²²But even now I know that God will give
You anything You ask.”

- John 11.17-22

Reflect
1.  Meditate again on Luke 10.38-42. Compared with Mary, Martha typically gets a bad rap in this story – so busy doing this and that, trying to please everyone, that she doesn’t have time to be with Jesus. Lest we should get the wrong idea about Martha, John includes this vignette of her coming to meet Jesus while He is on the way to Bethany. How does this show that she is a woman of faith? Complete this prayer: Lord, I know that You have come to meet me in Your Word, and to teach me by Your Spirit, so let me…

2.  John sets the stage for us: four days in the tomb, two miles from Jerusalem, many people arrived (doubtless some from two miles or more – on foot) to join Mary and Martha in mourning their dead brother. How does John want us to feel at this point? What emotion is he trying to conjure within us? Why? Does it matter for our appreciation of the story whether we experience that emotion? Explain. Lord, thank You that we can weep with those who weep, even as we rejoice with those who rejoice. Today, help me to show Your compassion to…

3.  Meditate on verse 21. What is Martha saying about Jesus? On what basis does she say this? How can you see in this that she is a woman of faith? Lord, You are the God Who heals, but always on Your terms only. Today I pray that You would…

4.  Meditate on verse 22. Mary offers two powerful expressions of faith here, one direct, and one “slant.” What is the direct statement, and what does this tell us about her faith in Jesus? What is the slant statement – what was Martha hoping for? – and what does her indirectness say both about her character and her faith?

5.  Return to Luke 10.38-42. Jesus rebuked Martha because she was not where she should have been when He was present. In our passage, it’s clear Martha was not going to make that mistake again. Did Martha learn anything from Jesus’ rebuke? Did she love Him less or more because of His rebuke? Did her faith grow from Luke 10 to John 11? What can you learn from Martha about being a person of true faith in Jesus? Bring together into one the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Mary and Martha mourn for Lazarus, and in mourning they need the comfort concerning their brother which the Jews wish to bring them. But before the fullness of time, words despair of being able to make the sister of the dead cease from weeping over him. Martha seems more eager than Mary, since Martha first ran to Jesus, while Mary remained sitting in the house.… Therefore Martha, who was somewhat inferior in this regard, ran to Jesus while Mary remains in the house to receive him as one who was able to bear his presence.” Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)

Here is another example of increased faith. Those who trust in the Lord are eager to be with Him, and when He rebukes them from His Word, they love Him all the more, and delight even more to be in His presence. How does Martha’s example encourage you in your relationship with Jesus?

Closing Prayer
Those who trust in the LORD
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
On the land allotted to the righteous,
Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
And to those who are upright in their hearts.

Psalm 125.1-4

Psalm 125.1-4 (St. Gertrude: Onward, Christian Soldiers)
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!
Like the hills surrounding safe Jerusalem,
Christ surrounds His Church and holds her in His mighty Hand!
   All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
   Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!

Wickedness shall rest not on this holy land;
Sinfulness shall never come forth from their hand. 
Trusting in the Savior, firm in His caress,
Ever shall His favor on this holy city rest.
   All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
   Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.