Let’s return to our story. Let’s watch how Jesus’ movements played out in this magnificent drama, to achieve, precisely, His purposes for each player, as He grasped His opportunity.

What was His ultimate purpose for doing His many miracles? According to John, they were signs… signs pointing to what? John records only seven miracles, each a sign pointing to and confirming an aspect of His identity as God’s Son. Some of those who witnessed His miracles believed in Him, e.g., His disciples after the wedding in Cana.

John 2:11 NLT
[11] “This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”

How imperative that Jesus’ dearest friends would also be convinced that He was who He said He was. What better opportunity to do a miracle for them so great that they would never forget.

The sisters’ reactions were different, but for both, life-changing. Martha, the practical one, confronted Jesus with a rebuke…

John 11:20-22 NLT
[20] “When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. [21] Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

Martha ran out to meet Him, chiding Him for His delay, expressing both a spoken rebuke and a hidden hope. Just like Andrew’s tentative response to Jesus’ question when they were confronted with a vast crowd of people to feed (John 6:8-9), so Martha hesitantly expressed faith in Jesus, that He would do something, she knew not what…

John 11:21-24 NLT
[21] “Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” [23] Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
[24] “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”

What was Martha saying? Would she have to settle for the hope that Lazarus would eventually come back to life in the general resurrection of the dead? Cold comfort for her in a time of devastating loss!

For Martha, this miracle demonstrated that Jesus Himself was the key to the resurrection. Outside of Him, there was no hope of resurrection. This was huge. Martha’s hope moved from a vague notion about resurrection to a powerful conviction that there would be a resurrection and that it would happen because of Jesus. Was Jesus telling her, in advance, that He would rise from the dead?

Martha saw, in the resurrection of Lazarus, the Jesus who was who He said He was because He did what He said He would do. “Your brother will rise again.”…and she believed.

As for Mary, the sensitive one, her disappointment in Jesus was so great that she didn’t even want to see Him. When He arrived in Bethany, she refused to meet Him. She stayed in the house, wallowing in her grief, compounded by her misery because Jesus has failed them. Hammering in her brain was the accusation, “You didn’t come!”

When Jesus called her, all she could say was, “It’s your fault! You didn’t come!” Unlike Martha, her devastation was complete. She could see nothing beyond the moment.

It’s no wonder Jesus wept, no because Lazarus was dead but because Mary had failed to trust Him. His compassion for Mary overwhelmed Him. If only she had trusted Him, she would not have put herself through so much pain.

What was Mary’s lesson in this great miracle? “Before you collapse in a heap of misery, Mary, let Jesus finish what He started. Trust in Him. That will save you from unnecessary emotional pain.”

How much we also need this lesson when trouble hits and we can find no way out! God will always finish what He started. Instead of descending into depression, if we trust Him, our faith is refined, like gold in a crucible in the fire, when we wait for the Lord to complete His work.

Philippians 1:6 NLT
[6] “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

What will it take for us to trust Him when the fire is hottest? Will it take a “Mary meltdown” before we learn to trust Him in the process?

God is always faithful to His promises. We will inherit them when we wait in faith and patience for Him to act, fully convinced that He will do what He said He will do.