"Getting It"

One of my grad school professors is known for saying, “It makes my brain hurt” whenever he discusses a complex concept. Understanding the Trinity is definitely one of those concepts. We don’t always ‘get it.’ The whole concept is beyond our human comprehension.  It is a concept that involves acceptance by faith. Martha was also confused by the whole idea. She trusted Jesus, but did she completely grasp that He was God?

John 11:22-27

Last week, we looked at the word BUT as Martha used it in John 11:22. In a voice of sweet surrender (as opposed to the frustration and accusations found in Luke 10:41), she proclaimed, ‘I don’t fully understand what you are doing, Lord, BUT I KNOW…”

Let’s continue that verse: “BUT I KNOW that even now GOD will give YOU whatever you ask”. Yes, Martha believed Jesus’ words. Martha trusted His will and plan. But, Martha didn’t “get it”. She did not fully comprehend that Jesus WAS God. In her mind, Jesus had the right connection and could make arrangements with God to ‘make it happen’ if He wanted to. She had faith in what Jesus said, but did she fully understand WHO He WAS (IS)?

Jesus challenged her further in verse 23 by assuring her, “Your brother will rise again.” Still (Verse 24) she didn’t get the point. She looked to the future resurrection ‘in the last day.’ She believed that concept as well, but still didn’t ‘get’ the lesson Jesus was trying to instill in her heart.

As an additional side note, have you noticed how Martha dwells in the past (vs.21) and holds to the future (vs. 24)? What she doesn’t ‘get’ is the present.  Jesus desired to demonstrate to Martha that He could meet present needs right here and right now.

Once again, as He did in Luke 10, I imagine Jesus shook His head and said, “Martha, Martha, Martha! You just don’t 'get it'.” (See “Martha, Martha, Martha” previous blog from Feb. 2).

“Getting it” seems to be a problem we all face; after all, we are only human. How can we expect to fully ‘get it?' We sure can’t fault Martha for her confusion. Jesus understood. That is why He wisely used the circumstances involving Lazarus to illustrate the importance of His coming resurrection (see "John 11-Setting the Stage" from March 5) and to demonstrate that He IS God.

So, if we are in a position as humans to not fully understand all that is involved in Who Jesus is, what He did for us, what He continues to do for us—how can we be expected to believe? By faith! He uses the events surrendering Lazarus’ sickness, death, and ultimately, his resurrection, to strengthen the faith of His disciples (verses 1-16), Martha and Mary (verses 17-40), and the mourners (verses 41-57). (Taken from Warren B. Wiersbe’s Be Alive: John 1-12.) By the way, these same lessons are there for us today. That is what makes God’s Word so important.

Finally, Jesus lays it out ‘plain and simple.’ He proclaimed to Martha in verse 25, “I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Then, He asks, Martha, plainly, “Do you believe?” He didn’t ask her if she understood or if she ‘got it.’ He asked her if she believed. 

What about you? Do you BELIEVE? 

We will look at Martha’s response next week. What will yours be?

I think I have a headache!

Debbie