Sisters at the Tomb

John 11:17–44

Sisters at the Tomb

Begin in silence…
Close your eyes and sit quietly for a few moments. Ask the Lord to help you focus on today’s practice and passage.

Set the scene…
For today’s scripture reading, we are again in Bethany, but between the home of Mary and Martha and the tomb of beloved Lazarus. Their brother fell ill, died and has been entombed for 4 days. The sisters sent word of his illness to Jesus, but he did not come right away. Martha runs out of her home when he arrives. Imagine the weight of this moment, somber and grief-stricken.

As we will read in the passage, Martha expresses disappointment to Jesus for not being there before her brother died, yet Jesus responds gently to her. Martha’s reaction demonstrates that her faith and relationship with Jesus are honest. What comes next is often overlooked in the story. Before Jesus weeps with the sisters or raises Lazarus, he and Martha dialogue about the final resurrection. Jesus imparts to her the gospel truth that he is the resurrection. She expresses faith in him as the Messiah, just as Peter does in other gospel accounts. This is a momentous proclamation of the gospel by a woman.

Today’s Practice: Visio Divina

Today’s image is a stained-glass depiction of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Look intently upon the image and let it invite you into the scene. Notice how Martha and Mary surround Jesus as their brother is unwrapped from grave clothes. Pay attention to what stands out to you in the image and what may be stirring inside of you.

Linger with the picture for a few moments before reading below.

Meditate
Read aloud or listen to John 11:17–44.

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes, Lord," she replied, "I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."

After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked.

"Come and see, Lord," they replied.

Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said.

"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

Reflect on the image and the passage together. What stands out to you?

Respond
The depth of Christ’s feelings for Mary, Martha and Lazarus is evident as Jesus weeps with the sisters at the tomb. Before facing his own death, Jesus spends the last week of his life retreating in the evenings to Bethany, likely to be with them. Imagine the proximity and intimate time they shared with their Savior.

Through the Holy Spirit and the holy scriptures, we share that proximity and intimacy with Jesus too.

Contemplate
Reflect once more on Martha’s proclamation of Jesus as Messiah in John 11:25–27:

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes, Lord," she replied, "I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."

Sit in silence again, either gazing at the image or closing your eyes. Breathe slowly and thank God for this time with Him.

Resolve
When you hear the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, remember what happens just before this miracle: Martha testifies that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.