John 11:17-27| On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Do you believe this, Martha?”
Look to whom Jesus asked this question: a bereaved, heartbroken sister.
Look at where Jesus stood as he asked this question: a cemetery.
Look at when Jesus asked this question: four days too late. Lazarus, his friend, was four days dead, four days buried.
Maybe she answered with the conviction of a triumphant angel, fists pumping the air. Give her reply a dozen exclamation marks if you want, but I don’t. I hear a meek “Yes, Lord . . . I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God” (v. 27 NLT).
Martha wasn’t ready to say Jesus could raise the dead. Even so, she gave him a triple tribute: “the Messiah,” “the Son of God,” and “the one who has come into the world.” She mustered a mustard-seed confession. Her expression of belief was enough for Jesus. Yours is too.