July 15, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A Tale of Two Sisters

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Holy God, may I be free of distractions so that I can focus to listen, to hear Your voice, and to change.

Read John 11:17-27

[17] On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. [18] Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, [19] and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. [20] When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. [21] “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” [23] Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” [24] Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” [25] Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; [26] and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” [27] “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Some Christians respond to bereavement by holding tightly to their faith, while for others faith wrestles with questioning and bewilderment. Which are you? Which is better?

With great subtlety John presents the two sisters in turn, as each encounters Jesus on his return to Bethany. Today we meet Martha, and tomorrow Mary. Interestingly they both say exactly the same thing to Jesus– “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (21,32)–and the fact that they both say “my” rather than “our” brother underlines their separateness, and the different way in which they are experiencing their grief. The words are the same, but the quality and the feeling of each encounter with Jesus is completely different.

Martha has a practical, can-do approach to life (Luke 10:40). She rushes out to meet Jesus as soon as she hears that he is approaching the village (20), armed with a practical suggestion: “I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” What faith! Implicitly she knows that Jesus’ relationship with God is such that anything is possible. Jesus probes her faith gently–is she simply holding to traditional Jewish faith in the final resurrection (23)? Martha believes this, of course–but her reply in verse 24 has an unspoken, “But I’m not talking about that, Lord!” and prompts from Jesus the wonderful, famous words in verses 25 and 26.

Jesus is the Lord of life and of death! Verse 26 has an emphasis that does not appear in the standard translations: “Whoever lives and believes in me will never, ever die–not ever!” Jesus uses the most emphatic negative possible, and adds an extra “not ever” for good measure. His question to Martha–“do you believe this?”–is a question to us, too. In the face of the awfulness of death, do we stand with Martha in naming the Lord Jesus as the resurrection and the life for us and ours?

Apply

Reflect on what death has meant to you. Sit with your memories and feelings, and turn verse 27 into your own response to Jesus today.

Closing prayer

Father, I praise You that I can live in Christ today, and one day I will live forever. I thank You for the assurance and joy that hope gives.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store