Her Story, Her StrengthSample

Martha: Strong Belief

Martha needed to see Jesus. Now.

She was out of breath by the time she finally reached Jesus and his disciples.

“Lord,” she gasped, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus took her hands, tears filling his eyes. Martha took a shuddering breath. “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Why had she said that? What could Jesus do now?

“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus said, his voice gentle.

Martha nodded. “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day,” she said. That day felt a long way off.

Jesus squeezed her hands. “I am the resurrection and the life,” he said. “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

Martha’s brother, Lazarus, was another of the few people Jesus raised to life during his time on earth. Martha and her siblings were close friends with Jesus. If you’ve heard of Martha before, you may be more familiar with the story of a time Jesus came to her house and she got upset with her sister, Mary, for sitting down to listen to Jesus instead of helping Martha. Martha’s story is often told as an example of what not to do–don’t get so busy you don’t have time for Jesus!

But it’s clear Jesus loved Martha deeply. His declaration to her, “I am the resurrection and the life,” is one of the most famous verses in the Bible, but people often forget he said it to Martha–a woman we often look down on or shake our heads at. Jesus said those beautiful words to comfort his friend in her grief and give her hope. And we can see from her response that Martha trusted Jesus–she knew he was her friend and Savior, and only he could help her in her terrible sadness.

Celebrating Easter reminds us that Jesus is still the resurrection and the life. Death was not the end of his story, and if we trust in him, it will not be the end of ours. Even when we come face-to-face with the worst brokenness in this messed-up world, Jesus will be beside us, to comfort and save us. If we believe this, we will see God’s glory, just as he promised Martha.