◄ What Does John 11:27 Mean? ►

Three days before her declaration that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, Martha had buried her beloved brother and was grieving deeply. She had sent an urgent message to the Lord to come quickly and heal him. But Jesus deliberately delayed His journey and His beloved friend died and was buried in a stone-cold tomb.

Jesus could have healed Lazarus from a distance, just as he had healed the nobleman's servant, but He delayed His visit for a purpose - and that purpose was for the glory of God.

Martha knew that her brother would rise on the day of resurrection, for she believed the holy Scriptures. But Martha was not prepared for the shattering words that Christ proclaimed to her as she stood weeping before Him: "I am the resurrection and the life," He said to her, "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?"

Jesus had made some astonishing declarations during His earthly ministry, but here He was claiming to have sovereign authority over life and death. Jesus was declaring that He had the supernatural power to resurrect the dead and give life to all who believe in Him: "Do you believe this?" He asked Martha. Do we believe this?

Martha answered immediately and made a great and thrilling confession of faith in Christ. Her profession of faith has shone down centuries of time and ignited hope in the hearts of many. Without hesitation, she declared, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world."

Martha unhesitatingly confessed Christ in three distinct ways. First, she announced that Jesus was the Christ, the 'Messiah of Israel'. Secondly, she acknowledged Him as the 'Son of God' and third, she confessed that Jesus was the 'Coming One' Who had been prophesied to come into the world to save His people.

Martha's confession of faith was not made after Lazarus was raised from the dead. This grieving woman had no clue that her brother was shortly to be brought back to life. This grieving lady made her declaration of trust in the Lord Jesus while her brother's body lay cold and lifeless in the stony grave. Martha's confident reply demonstrated that her faith in Christ was firm, settled, steadfast, and unshakable.

Martha is often remembered as the woman who fussed and flustered about the kitchen and was bothered and troubled by many things... but as she stood before her God and Saviour and acknowledged, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He Who comes into the world," Martha showed herself to be a woman of virtue who exemplified what it means to live by faith and not by sight.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the beautiful example of Martha who trusted You in the most grievous of life's circumstances. Thank You that You are, indeed, the Resurrection and the life for all who trust in You. Help me to develop such a confident trust in Your Word that I am enabled to remain firmly settled in the faith, even when I am surrounded by life's greatest problems and pain. Help me to live my life by faith and not by sight. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.