Ελληνικό SiteGrief Counseling
What do you say to a friend who has experienced the loss of a believing loved one?
John 11:17-37
Jesus and Martha
- Jesus arrived four days after the funeral.
- Martha, upon hearing that Jesus was coming, left the house of mourners and went to him.
- Her expression of confidence in the healing power of Jesus is straightforward; so also is her confidence in his ability to received whatever he asks in prayer.
- Jesus, almost in answer to her confidence in his ability to pray, tells her that Lazarus will rise again. After all, had she not said that he would get whatever he asks in prayer? Then he will pray for the resurrection of Lazarus.
- Once confident, Martha declares her knowledge of the end-of-the-world resurrection of her brother. Jesus reveals that he is the resurrection and the life—no need to wait longer, to look further.
- Does she believe this? She simply answers she believes Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God, who was promised (by the prophets).
- Martha then went home, leaving Jesus. Once home, she quietly instructed Mary to go to Jesus.
Jesus and Mary
- Mary left immediately, followed by well-meaning friends.
- Falling at the feet of Jesus, Mary also expresses confidence that Jesus could have saved Lazarus. One wonders whether the sisters weren’t complaining that Jesus had not prevented the death of Lazarus.
- She was weeping. Her friends were weeping. Jesus wept (v. 35).
- The Jews saw the weeping of Jesus as a sign of his great love for Lazarus; and some of them wondered aloud whether Jesus could have prevented the death of Lazarus (v. 37).
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John 11:17-37
17Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35Jesus wept.
36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?