Martha & Mary of BethanySample

Martha: Remove the Stone

Jesus said the words above to Martha and Mary after their brother Lazarus had been laid in the tomb behind the stone for four days. Martha was quick to caution Jesus about the four days and the odor. She could not conceive in her wildest imagination what Jesus was about to do.

There was one thing that stood between her and the greatest miracle she would ever witness. Jesus told her, "Take away the stone." This moment captures the tension between human doubt and divine possibility. Martha’s concerns are valid, yet Jesus calls her to look beyond the physical evidence and trust in Him and His Words that bring life. His words challenge us to move past our skepticism and embrace faith. How often do we, like Martha, focus on the seemingly impossible barriers before us? We see the hopelessness of a situation, and we hesitate to trust His Words and believe. Our own lives are often marked by "stones" of doubt, fear, or despair that appear immovable. Yet, just as Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, He calls us to simply believe in, and rely on, Him. He can bring life and hope even where we see only decay and hopelessness.

Today, let’s take a bold step of faith. Let’s remove any stone of unbelief and let’s embrace His promises with faith, opening ourselves up to the miracle-working power of God. By relying on Jesus, we can witness His glory unfold in all our circumstances.

Written by HEIDI WYSMAN