More Than Just a Story - the Book of Johnনমুনা

Jesus probably visited Mary, Martha, and Lazarus many more times than what is recorded in the Bible. Since they lived just outside of Jerusalem, the family may even have been “members” of the upper room as part of the 120 followers after Jesus’ death and resurrection. The point is, they all knew Jesus well—they were friends. They knew Him to be the Messiah, they knew of His anointing to heal, and they knew to call on Him. When Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?” it was not news to them—they believed it.

Mary and Martha’s example in this story is a reminder for us to look to Jesus first. We should train our minds to see Jesus as our first and only solution. When Lazarus’s sickness began to bother Mary and Martha, they sent word to their friend Jesus for help. A lot of times, when something comes up for us, we try to solve it ourselves, we suffer from anxiety, or we tell someone whom we think can help. It is only when everything else fails that we remember Jesus.

We need to ask ourselves: Do we, too, know Jesus like Mary and Martha? Does Jesus know us? Have we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior? Can we cry out to Him? Do we rely on Him in our lives? Do we “have not because we ask not” (James 4:2)? Will we get to our end and have Jesus say, "I never knew you," meaning He could not recognize us as true disciples, followers, and friends (Matthew 7:21-23)?

Communication is key to all good relationships, and prayer is the main way we communicate to relate with our Lord. After “entering into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise” in prayer (Psalm 100:4), are we asking Him to help us solve our problems in our prayers?

How can we develop meaningful, daily prayer lives?
What does Paul tell us about prayer and anxiety in Philippians 4:6?

Extra: Listen to and memorize the song What a Friend We Have in Jesus.