The Gospel of John 11:30-32 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” (John 11:30-32 KJV)

Here in these passages we are reminded, that the Lord is constant in His place. When we feel distant from Him, we are the ones who moved away. He remained steady. Our attitude must be to meet Him even if He is still out of town, for He is close by, like these sisters in the midst of their tragedy.

Also, we can see that He's never in a hurry. His pace is in concert with the heavenly Father's timing. He extended two days before making the move to come. He abides with the Father's perfect will in His rhythm of grace.

Watching the communal support these sisters are surrounded with, this touched a nerve within us that we too are to comfort those in our midst who are faced with grief and loss. And, the Lord assures us that we are comforted, declaring: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4 NIV). The crowd of mourners noticing Mary in haste to rise going out, they followed her, a show of care and sympathy for these sisters of the departed. They thought that Mary was going to the tomb to weep.

Mary was actually headed to see the Lord Jesus Christ who was still outside the village. Falling down at the Lord's feet, like she always does in His presence, Mary expressed her faith in the One who is greater and higher, in the person of the Great Shepherd, to be able to bless her - the one who is lesser and feeble, a sheep in His flock. The same faith we must always nurture in our intimate relationship with Him.

Mary was not privy to the Lord's earlier interaction with Martha. Yet, her statement (John 11:32) echoes the Lord's message of truth, that we must hold strong to believe, which He declared to Martha: “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”” (John 11:25-26 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

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