Martha; A Growing Faith

John 11:18-27

Praise and Prayer

If you brought your bible turn with me over to the book of John chapter eleven. The book of John chapter eleven and in a a moment we are going to read verses eighteen through twenty-seven of the gospel of John chapter eleven.

What does it mean when someone says, “no pain no gain?” (The more we endure the stronger we become). The same thing is true in our faith. God uses trials in our life to grow us and make us stronger more mature Christians.

Read John 11:18-27

John 11:18–27 NASB95

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”

Who are the characters in this story?

Where are they?

What are they doing?

Why?

We are given the privilege through the Holy Spirit to be apart of this great conversation between Jesus and Martha. What we see here is Jesus using this situation in Martha’s life to grow her in her faith. As we study this setting and conversation for ourselves my hope is that it will give us understanding and growth in our faith.

I. The Setting in Bethany. Vs. 17-20

Look at Vs. 17, “So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.”

Jesus returns to Bethany and confirms what He already knew to be true, Lazarus is dead.

How long had Lazarus been in the tomb?

We have already talked about the fact that Lazarus died on the same day Jesus received word he was sick. (explain the timing)

Notice Vs 18, “Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;”

Why does John tell us Bethany was only two miles from Jerusalem?

A couple of things here. First maybe John is telling us this to remind us of the journey Jesus took to get there.

But I think based on Vs. 19, this was more about the danger Jesus faced from the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.

Remember how afraid the disciples were to return. Remember what Thomas said in Vs. 16.

There was a legitimate concern they might be attacked. The Jews were plotting to kill Him and already tried to stone Him.

Notice Vs. 19, “and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.”

Who are these Jews that Have come to console the sisters?

these Jews were not the religious leaders of Israel. These were professional mourners.

However, they are just as dangerous as the leaders. I believe that’s why Jesus doesn’t come directly to the house but Martha and Mary come to Him.

Notice John 11:46 “But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.”

In ancient Israel It was thought to be very pious and virtuous to mourn with someone over the loss of their loved ones. Which i agree, that is very virtuous. But like most things in ancient Israel their overcompensation had destroyed all of the virtue and now it was just a religious activity.

The lesson for us is; the reason why we are doing something good is as important as the good we are doing. Matt. 6:1-2.

Notice Vs. 20, “Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house.”

Why do you think Mary stayed home? (I think the sisters were trying to protect Jesus by being discreet.)

II. Martha’s Limited Faith Vs. 21-22

Notice Vs. 21-22, “Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

What does Martha’s response to Jesus tell us about her faith?

Martha believed in Jesus, but her faith was a complaining faith. She did not believe to the point she was able to rest in her faith. She was not trusting the matter completely into the Lord’s hands. She wasn’t convinced that what happened was for the best. And that Jesus had her best interests in mind.

A complaining, questioning faith is a limited faith. It is a faith that questions Jesus’ Lordship … • that questions if Jesus has done what is best • that questions if Jesus knows what is best It says to Jesus, “If you had been here, if you had acted differently, if you had done this or that, then this trial would not have happened

III. Martha’s Fundamental Faith Vs. 23-24

Notice Vs. 23-24, Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

What do these verses teach us about what Martha believed? She believed in a final resurrection of the righteous and she believed in a day of Judgment at the end of time. But notice it was no comfort to her. Her loved one was gone and her life was changed.

The point is this: a fundamental faith is essential. A person must believe in the fundamentals of the faith, but a fundamental faith is short—it is not all there is to faith and to our life in Christ. It is not a living faith, not a faith that lives in the presence of Christ. And what is so desperately needed by man is what was needed by Martha: a living faith, a faith that is alive and vibrant, dynamic and moving, serving and fellowshipping.

IV. Martha’s Declared Faith Vs. 25-27

Notice Vs. 25-26, “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,” and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

What does Jesus mean by “I am the Resurrection? He is the fulfillment of the final resurrection. In the same way He is “The water of life, “ The Light of the world.” He is the fulfillment of everything the OT was pointing to.

Therefore, He can … • give and sustain life as He wills • resurrect and restore life as He wills This is a phenomenal claim. It means that man—in fact all of life—exists only by the will and power of Jesus. Being the power and energy of life, Jesus is the Source of all life. There is nothing existing apart from His will; therefore, if a dead person wishes to live, only Jesus can give him life. And if a living person does not wish to die, only Jesus can keep him from dying.

Notice Vs. 27, “She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”

What does Martha’s response tell us about her faith now? (She has grown in her understanding).

The word “believe” is the same word as “commit.” John 2:24 “But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,”

So, Martha is entrusting herself to Jesus. Notice her threefold declaration of faith. 1. Jesus is the Christ, meaning He is the Messiah. 2. He is the Son of God. Not a son of God, but “The Son of God.” And 3. “He who comes into the world,” means the one sent by God, the fulfillment of OT prophecy. So, we have seen Martha’s limited faith, complaining about the way Jesus responded. We have seen her fundamental faith. She understood the basics of scripture. And then finally we see her proclamation of faith. This is what true faith looks like.

What kind of faith do you possess today?

What we see is Martha growing in her faith right in the middle of this trial as she becomes fully aware of who Jesus is. She lets go of her limited understanding, her fundamental understanding and embraces Christ fully trusting Him for whatever results.

That is a place we all want to come to. A place of dynamic trust and belief in Christ so we are not shaken by the trials of the world.