There were two sisters, Martha and Mary, (who lived with their brother Lazarus) in a town named Bethany. They knew the Lord Jesus and had welcomed Him in their home. They believed He was the Holy One promised by God.
While He was at a place beyond the Jordan River, some distance from them, Lazarus became very sick. The sisters knew Jesus could cure him and sent a messenger to tell Him of the sickness.
Divine Delay
But Jesus did not go to them at once, nor speak the command for Lazarus to be well, as He had for some. Instead He stayed two days longer in that place. Then He said to the disciples, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.”
They did not know Lazarus was dead, and thought Jesus meant natural sleep and said that was good for him. So Jesus told them, “Lazarus is dead,” and said, “Let us go unto him.”
The disciples were afraid to have Jesus to go near Jerusalem, for they had seen the men there try to stone Him. But when they saw His plan was to go, one of them said, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” They loved Jesus so much they felt they wanted to share death with Him. They all returned with Him and came near to Bethany four days after Lazarus had died.
When Martha learned that Jesus was near, she went to meet Him, and said to Him, “Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Jesus told her, “Thy brother shall rise again.”
Martha knew, as did all who believed God, that the dead would be raised (Dan. 12:2; Heb. 11:35). But she did not know that Jesus was the One by whom any could be raised or have life.
Hope in Resurrection
Jesus then said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.”
Martha believed the words of the Lord, though she had not yet seen His power over death, and she said to Him, “I believe Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”
Martha returned to the house to tell Mary that Jesus had come, and she spoke to Mary secretly, “The Master is come, and calleth for thee.”
Mary at once went to Jesus. When the friends saw her go from the house they thought she was going to Lazarus’ grave to weep, and they followed after her to comfort her. As a result they came also where Jesus was.
Mary said the same words to Jesus as Martha, “Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” They were so certain He could have made Lazarus well, if He had been there. But they were soon to know what a great thing He still could do for them.
Jesus asked them where they had laid Lazarus, and they said; “Lord, come and see.”
Further Meditation:
1. What was it that Martha didn’t understand?
2. When and how will the dead that die in their sins be raised?
3. Death, the Intermediate State, Resurrection, and Final Destiny by B. Anstey gives quite a bit of help on understanding the subjects of death and resurrection that are mentioned in this chapter.