The apostle John wrote how Martha the sister of Lazarus left Jesus and, “went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calls for you. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The 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 goes unto the grave to weep there”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty-two of his book John shared how Mary encountered Jesus and, “fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died” where we read:
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died.
The verse reads, “Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, ...” John began with the words, “Then when Mary” which means “therefore, consequently and these things being so at the time and moment Mary whose name means their rebellion” “was come where Jesus was” or “arose and appeared to the place and location that the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation remained”, “and saw him” which means “and observed, beheld and perceived Jesus”, “she fell down at his feet” or “Mary prostrated herself at Jesus' physical feet”, “saying unto him” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. John shared as soon as Mary came to where Jesus was located, she “prostrated” herself “at his feet” and began to say the following words to Him.
The verse goes on to say, “... Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died.” John continued with the word, “Lord” which means “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” or “whether you, Jesus, were in this place”, “my brother had not died” which means “my, Mary's, male sibling Lazarus, would not have expired, taken his last breath, become inanimate and lifeless”. John shared how Mary acknowledged the “Lordship” of Jesus as she surmised that “if” He was in that location with them, Lazarus would not have “expired or passed away”.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how “Mary” went to where Jesus was, saw Him, bowed herself before Him in humility and told Him how her brother would not have “died” if He was with them. Mary's speedy resolve, observation, humility and conclusion are commendable, and she knew who to go to with her honesty. She, however, did not know what Jesus had in mind. Jesus had a plan not only for Mary, but also for Martha, Lazarus and every person who reads and observes these words. Jesus was to demonstrate His power over death, and though He does not always perform according to the wishes and desires of mankind, He has a greater and everlasting purpose in mind. Mary was disappointed that Jesus was not with them to make a difference in Lazarus' life, but those who are wise will continue to study God's word and realize He has a greater plan in mind that endures for all eternity.
Next time John shares, “when Jesus therefore saw her weeping … he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled”, 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".
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