Raise Disciples to Build and Believe Their Vocabulary of Faith

As Jesus was making His way toward Jerusalem, He was informed that His friend Lazarus was sick and close to death. Rather than hurrying to Bethany to heal His friend, Jesus remained where He was for two more days before continuing His journey.

When Martha, Lazarus’s sister, heard that Jesus was arriving four days after Lazarus’s death, she hurried out to meet Him.

John 11:21-27:

“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.”

Martha said she believed in the power of Jesus, in the resurrection, and that Jesus is the Son of God. But a few verses later, Martha showed that her words did not yet match her understanding. When Jesus asked for the stone to be removed from Lazarus’s tomb, she seemed to try to stop Him.

John 11:40-44:

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.”

We are all like Martha. What we say we believe—as adults—and how we act on those beliefs may not always be consistent. Even more so with kids. When we come alongside a child to help them build a vocabulary of faith, it isn’t just so they can use words appropriately or know how to answer questions. Instead, we help them build a vocabulary of faith that can lead them to believe in the things they say.

Questions for Reflection

• How can you encourage a child to grow in their vocabulary of faith today through their actions and experiences?
• How can we live in accordance with what we say we believe?