Jhn 11:15And for your sakes, I'm glad I wasn't there, for now you will really believe. Come, let's go see him."
To some this is just a simple statement. However it is also telling. From this one may conclude the faith of the disciples faith is based on what they see. Leaving one to wonder, if their faith is based only this, should it be called faith? After all, faith believing in things unseen is it not?
Jhn 11:16Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go, too—and die with Jesus."
The ever loved doubting Thomas. This was the first time we see he holds doubts, however as we all know it isn't the last. One thing most over look here is that Thomas gives voice to the fact that he is willing to follow Yeshua even if means going to face his death. How many of us today can say the same thing? An even better question, if you were placed on trial for being a follower of Yeshua, would there be enough evidents to convict you? Or would they simply find that you follow blindly after teachings not based in truth?
Jhn 11:17When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days.
Jhn 11:18Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem,
Jhn 11:19and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss.
Jhn 11:20When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house.
Some say Mary didn't know Yeshua was there, thats why she stayed in the house. Others say she didn't go out to meet Him, because she was upset with Him for not coming in time to save Lazarus. We have nothing to say one way or the other, so any attempt to say this or that, is nothing more than speculation. However we are about to see a true example of faith unfold.
Jhn 11:21Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.
Jhn 11:22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask."
Without understanding what she had just said, (or so it seems) Martha has shown us her faith. You see, she openly states that HaShem will do whatever Yeshua ask. That's faith, in it's purest form. Yet, as we will see, she like many doesn't even see this in herself.
Jhn 11:23Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again."
Jhn 11:24"Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day."
Though she said this, one must ask how did she know this. As we know, there were 2 houses of thought on this, some said there was life after death, others said there wasn't. Yet when one looks at this in depth, we find they should have all understood this. After all it is found in the Tanakh.
Jhn 11:25Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.
Jhn 11:26Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?"
Jhn 11:27"Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God."
Jhn 11:28Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, "The Teacher is here and wants to see you."
Jhn 11:29So Mary immediately went to him.
I ask now that you keep this part in mind for when we return to this. Please note that Martha didn't tell Mary in front of everyone there, rather pulled her aside to tell her. From this it becomes clear to any that look past the words, and at the action taken, that this was intended only for Mary. When we move on, it will become clear as to the result of this.
One more thing we should pass on here. In that time, some women were professional mourners. Even if they had no idea who had passed, they would show up and carry on as though it had been their own child. It wasn't out love of the person that was truly in mourning, it was in hopes of being being paid for helping the mourner mourn. Sounds nuts to us today, however it truly was a thing back then, and only women took part in this.
