Intervention

"You are the Christ, the Son of God who is come into the world." Martha knew who she was talking to. She had seen the healings, heard the teachings and embraced the Messiah as her own. While serving meals she had heard her brother Lazarus and the other men talking about the authority Jesus spoke with and operated in. Their faith and excitement was well founded for the Christ was there among them to touch, to hear and to see. These teachings from the law brought on new meaning and new life now that He had come. This was truly a new season! But, somehow, in the middle of the triumph there was tragedy. Lazarus died.

All of Martha's dreams, plans and excitement were snuffed out with his last breath and in the midst of the busyness, miracles and blessings she came face to face with her humanity. For all the hopes she had held on to she felt betrayed and rejected. Lazarus... the name echoed the very faith Martha held so closely to...God will help. Ironic, isn't it, that so many years in the past her brother was already tagged by the assistance of Yahweh. It is for certain their parents had no clue of just what help from God Lazarus would receive when they named him! Martha and Jesus' disciples would receive that help as well.

After Lazarus' death did they believe there was hope in the future? Absolutely, with all of their hearts! Did they fathom what hope was about to reveal that day? Not by any stretch of the imagination! In John's recount of this resurrection story he says "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, so when He heard he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was." Everyone, especially Jesus' disciples and close friends, knew He could have arrived in time to completely heal Lazarus, but for whatever reasons He did not. They knew Jesus had the time and ability to go heal Lazarus, they now knew Lazarus was dead and they knew the Jews had been seeking to kill Jesus, but yet they still trusted Him beyond their knowledge. Thomas summed up all of the disciples thoughts pretty well that day. Jesus said "Let's go to Judea.". The disciples said but "the Jews seek to stone you there!" Still, Jesus headed to see Lazarus amidst much protest from His friends. Jesus had said Lazarus was sleeping. They assumed he would get better. Why go there and take a chance of being stoned? Then Jesus said it: "Lazarus is dead and I am glad that I was not there...Nevertheless let us go to him." How many chins dropped and eyebrows raised at that statement? No sugar-coated reply just He's dead. I'm going. Thomas didn't sugar-coat his thoughts either. "Let us also go, that we may die with him." They went, they cried and all the way they feared, questioned and wondered.

Martha brought her hurts, questions and preconceived notions and hurled them at The Master's feet before He could even reach their house. As soon as she heard Jesus was coming she carried every bitter thought and broken dream with her, dragging them behind like a bag full of clanging pots and pans. This wasn't a greeting of gladness she met Him with but rather a grasp for clarity. There was very little grace in her mind when she expressed her faith. But, among all the tousled questions, still rose up in her the assurance that the end would be so much better because The One who holds it all together was in their midst.

Many of us know the end of this story and for those who do not the Bible, in John chapter 11, tells it so much better than I ever could. The Savior of the world, Christ, the Son of God, was only two miles away but four days late. It was inconceivable but true. He had permitted the unthinkable and opened Himself up to scrutiny, doubt and criticism. He had also drawn a line in the sand for Mary, Martha and His followers just as a line had been drawn for their forefathers Abraham, Moses, Daniel and so many others. Do you choose me now? Life is going to happen because of what Adam set in motion so many centuries ago but will you let me be your life-guide anyhow? From lost relationships to lost loved ones to death itself we are all confronted with our Lazarus periods. That's when we choose faith over fear, truth over fact and Christ over self. That's when Christ meets us outside our Bethany to listen, comfort and, yes, grieve. Then He asks us to take Him to our Lazarus. He walks with us to confront our image of defeat and discouragement with the Father's love, wisdom and mercy. That's when He proves He is never two miles away nor four days last but, rather, He always holds us in His presence and is perfect in His timing.

After over 2000 years of proving Himself faithful in the midst of our humanity He is still doing so. My heart still holds many "I don't know's" but I choose to clothe them with His "That's OK's". I choose to trust Him through my Lazarus periods because even though I don't see the immediate resolution I know the eternal solution and that is more than enough for me this day!

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