In The House Of Misery God HelpsSample

A Statement Of Faith 

When Martha came to Jesus expressing a poor kind of faith, a faith that was half faith and half doubt, Jesus did not get angry with her for her weak faith or rebuke her in turn for her attitude. Instead, Jesus used the opportunity to teach Martha more of Himself. He said, "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" (vv. 25-26). 

What did Jesus teach Martha? He spoke to her condition specifically. She had attempted to push the resurrection off to the last day. Jesus replied by saying that He Himself was the resurrection and that, therefore, wherever He is there is life. In this case, the Lord Jesus Christ was present physically, so there was going to be physical life. Lazarus would live again. 

And then Jesus asks Martha a question: "Do you believe this?" (v. 26). Jesus had made a statement ("I am the resurrection and the life"); he had elaborated upon it. Now he asks, "Do you believe this? Do you really believe it?" 

Jesus speaks of faith and not feeling. He did not say to Martha, "Do you feel better now, Martha?" According to Jesus, it was not how she felt that was important, but what she believed. Feelings are deceiving. Moreover, they come and go. On the other hand, faith is a sure anchor. 

Notice also that Christ was specific. He did not say, "Martha, do you believe generally?" He said, "Martha, do you believe this? That is, do you believe the specific truths I have taught you?" 

Her answer to this question was, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world" (v. 27). 

The important thing that we should notice about this verse is that it gives a statement of content based on Martha's confession. The first notable feature is the basis upon which she believes. The second is the content or what she believes. Clearly this is also important for faith without content is meaningless. 

Jesus Himself is the content of her confession. 

Until this moment, Martha had “if only” faith. “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). But then she began to realize what Jesus could do and moved to “even now” faith. She said to Jesus, “but even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Radical faith says, “Lord, I believe that my future can be greater than my past, that you can turn the situation around and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, that nothing is too hard for you.” Radical faith in the face of radical circumstances brings radical results.

Quote: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” - A.W. Tozer

Application Questions: Is your faith like Martha's? Is it based on a knowledge of God's Word and is it centered in the person of Christ? Or is it without substance, without content, and therefore essentially no more than a state of your mind?

Prayer: Lord draw me to Yourself so that I am able to articulate a clear statement of what I really believe about You. Amen