Thank God for Women, But… (Part 10)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8 and Part 9.

As a reminder: when Jesus walked in His earthly ministry,  He was the living word who only did what the Father showed Him and only spoke what the Father told Him.

Let’s say that a friend bangs on your door with his fists and keeps on knocking until you open the door. After you finally open the door, the friend exclaims, “Come quickly! My brother is dying and you’re the only person who can help him!”

What would you do? Probably, if you are like me, you would go with the friend, right?

Jesus was thrust into a similar situation, but how did He react?

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he [Lazarus] was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. (John 11: 5 – 6)

Jesus ignored the desperate pleas and continued His stay in Jerusalem. Then, a couple of days later, Jesus decided to head to Bethany to help His friend, Lazarus, who was now stone-cold dead.

When Jesus came near Bethany, He stopped a short way off and waited. Two women, Martha and Mary, approached Him. And both sisters spoke the same opening lines to the Lord.

…”Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (John 11: 21, 32)

Now comes the grave-opening difference between the two sisters’ discourses with the Lord.

The first woman, Martha, said all of the right things and acted like a proper lady, but walked away empty handed. At best, she had a little more head knowledge than when she first met with Jesus.

Then, the second woman, Mary, approached Jesus.

Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled. (John 11: 32 – 33)

Mary not only said the right words, but  she also acted out her love for Jesus. She worshipped Him; and this act of adoration moved Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead.

When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth… (John 11: 43 – 44)

Now, who can stir men to do things? And why did the Father orchestrate this particular incident?

(Continued in Part 11)