Wrong Choices?

Why don't you come when I call you?

Does that bring back memories of childhood for you?  It does for me.

Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.' - John 11:21-22

I am glad Mom never quoted today's lesson from John's Gospel.  It would have made me feel really guilty, and sorry for Jesus.

Jesus could have come right away to Lazarus' side when he heard he was sick, but he chose to wait.

John tells us Jesus waited for two days before telling his disciples he would go.  Their reaction was surprising.  They told him the trip was dangerous, that he could be stoned to death.

So, on the one hand, we have Martha, the sister who kept working when Jesus came to visit.  She comes to meet him to give him a piece of her mind.  Why didn't you come earlier?

But even in her anger and frustration, she says he could still do something for her brother.  She has that much faith.

In the exchange that follows, we can not be sure if Jesus is talking about the present or the future when he says Lazarus will rise again, and Martha isn't either.  She thinks he means the resurrection.

So, in this little miracle story, John shows us with a personal example, what our faith tells us, that we will rise again.  But then Jesus makes it all better by bringing Lazarus back from the dead.

What of that had not happened?  Would we still have faith in the resurrection?

I think it is significant that Martha comes out to meet him.  She was the one whom Jesus chided for making the wrong choice, and here she was chiding him back for the same thing.  He chose to stay busy while her brother was dying.

So, one lesson we could take from this exchange is not to wait, to come when we are called so we can spend our time together.

I can live in faith and know that in the end, all will be set right, but I still would like some company when I am in pain, and I believe that is what Martha was saying.  Come when I call, and be with me.

Rest assured, Jesus tells us.  Do not be afraid.  I am with you always.

More to come...