The Way

Martha's Confession

Draft, under review

John 11:17–27

17When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already spent four days in the tomb.

18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away,

19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them in the loss of their brother.

20So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him, but Mary stayed at home.

21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.

22But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask of Him.”

23“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.

24Martha replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.

26And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27“Yes, Lord,” she answered, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

Berean Standard Bible. Read the full chapter

Theo-approved pending final check (theo-review-2)

Reflection

By the time Jesus reaches Bethany, Lazarus has been in the tomb four days (John 11:17). The detail matters, because there is no doubt he is truly dead. The house is full of mourners from Jerusalem (John 11:19). Martha goes out to meet Jesus while Mary stays home (John 11:20), and her first words are both a complaint and a confession. If He had been there, her brother would not have died. Yet even now she trusts God will give Jesus whatever He asks (John 11:21–22).

Jesus tells her that her brother will rise. Martha answers with the orthodox hope of many Jews of her day, the resurrection on the last day (John 11:24; cf. Dan 12:2). She believes in a future event. Jesus redirects her to a present Person: He Himself is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). This is one of the I am sayings in John's Gospel, and it makes the last-day hope personal. Life that death cannot finally hold comes through union with Him (John 11:25–26; John 5:24–29).

Then He asks her directly whether she believes this. Martha's answer is one of the fullest confessions in the Gospels. She confesses Him as Messiah and Son of God, the One the world was waiting for (John 11:27), the very goal John states for his whole book (John 20:31).

Notice that her faith is spoken in grief, not after it. Jesus does not make her stop mourning before she believes, and He Himself will soon weep (John 11:35).

Word study: verified (STEPBible)

anastasis (Greek, Strong's G386): resurrection, a rising up (John 11:24–25; 1 Cor 15:12–13). It refers to bodily rising, not merely survival of the soul.

Cross-reference trail

  1. Dan 12:2: The hope of resurrection Martha held.
  2. John 5:25: The dead will hear the Son's voice.
  3. John 20:31: The purpose of John's Gospel.
  4. 1 Cor 15:20: Christ the firstfruits.
  5. 1 Thess 4:14: Those who sleep in Jesus.

Go deeper

  • Question tree: Grief, comfort.grief, then comfort.grief.q3 (seeing loved ones again)
  • Pathway: Grief & Loss, content/pathways/grief-and-loss.md

Prayer

Jesus, in my grief I confess You as the resurrection and the life; hold me until that day.

Go deeper