Jesus, If You Had Been Here - John 11:21

The apostle John wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent you may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was near unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off. And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-one of his book John shared how Martha said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died” where we read:

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died.

The verse reads, “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, ...” John began with the words, “Then said Martha unto Jesus” which means “therefore, wherefore, on this account and at that time uttered, declared and proclaimed Martha whose name means she was rebellious”, “Lord” or “One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”, “if you had been here” which means “whether you, Jesus, would have been in this location and place” the following would not have occurred. John shared how “Martha” told Jesus “if” He had been with them, the next event would not have happened.

The verse goes on to say, “... my brother had not died.” John continued with the words, “my brother” which means “my, Martha's, male sibling” “had not died” or “would not have breathed his last, expired or been lifeless and inanimate”. John shared how Martha continued to share with Jesus as she expressed that her “brother”, “Lazarus”, would not have taken his last breath if He was with them.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how “Martha” truly believed the “Lord Jesus” could have kept her brother from dying. She had seen His miracles in the past, and yet, He delayed. She knew of His power, and yet, He did not come in time to perform it. In other words, “Martha” was disappointed with Jesus' response to her crisis. Many people have their ideas about how God should work and when He should do so. They believe He could “prevent” some “bad things” from happening, and it seems that He did not show up. God came to the world for the “eternal” purpose of giving people “everlasting life” through a relationship with His Son Jesus. Although it may seem that Jesus could have done something different than what has happened, He has His plan and timing for everything. Those who are wise will understand the “eternal” purposes of God and trust Him when things do not come about as they believe they should have.

Next time John shares how Martha says to Jesus, “but I know … whatsoever you will ask of God, God will give it to you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".