Today’s Encouragement is John 11:20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.
Mary remained seated –
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, a brother and two sisters, were close friends of Jesus and Jesus loved them (v 5). When Jesus had visited their home earlier, Mary was enraptured by His teaching while Martha prepared the meal, and later Mary anointed His feet with precious ointment (v2). This family was perhaps the closest to Jesus of anyone, and Lazarus has just died.
What was Mary thinking when she remained seated? She had been grieving her brother Lazarus’s death for four days already, and when Jesus arrived, Martha went out to meet Him, but not Mary.
We can only speculate: was it anger that Jesus hadn’t healed Lazarus, or hurt that He hadn’t come when they sent for Him(v3), was she too overcome by grief?
Here’s an indication, v32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Mary and Martha lost their dear brother because Jesus didn’t come when they asked Him to! What a tragedy! What misplaced faith in Him! They must’ve been as disappointed, as crushed emotionally, by Jesus’ abandonment of them, His closest friends, as they were by the death of Lazarus!
Mary was understanding very clearly the loss of her brother. He truly was dead. And Jesus clearly didn’t come and heal him as they had hoped when they cried out to Him for help…
Ah my friends… but the story wasn’t over, not yet!
Father God grant us a faith which goes beyond the reality we see with our eyes; that when our earthly circumstances seem to counter what Faith proclaims as Truth… we will cling to Faith… we will cling to Your Truth. May it be so In Jesus’ Name.
Even when it hurts
Hillsong United
Today’s Encouragement 