Kicking Jesus In the Shins

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21

At the death of her brother Lazarus, Martha complains to Jesus for not fixing the problem. While we expect this from OCD Martha, Mary joins in too: Sobbing at his feet; “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32). Then the crowd joins the chorus blaming Jesus too (v.37).

We want God to fix our problems our way. We want Jesus to keep our spiritually dead corpses motoring along (cf. Eph 2:1, Col 2:13) The Lord is limited to what he can do as long as we insist on being wriggling corpses.

Listen.

“Lazarus is dead, . . . so that you may believe.” (John 11:14–15) Us Lazarus’ are in our state, our predicament, so the work of God may be displayed (John 9:3). Jesus didn’t come to fix you but to redeem and change you. To have you rely on his power not your own.

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, . . . and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25–26)

Jesus asks you, “Do you believe this?”