Daddy Beyond Doctrine

Jesus' heart broke.  His little child was crying.  He certainly knew the facts, He was God, of course He knew the facts.  And Martha had come out to make ABSOLUTELY sure Jesus knew that her brother, Lazarus, had died.  She was always ready to serve and always ready to "tell it like it is".  Oh and she told Jesus alright!   

We all know at least one Martha.  The faithful servant, always ready to tell you her list of good deeds.  Her faith really works, and you always feel as if maybe she might ask why yours doesn't.  You seem led into a fake show piety when in Martha's presence.

    

Jesus gave Martha what she needed, a reminder:  "Your brother will rise again".   She thinks she has Jesus all figured out.  She knew this doctrine, maybe a little to well.  Christ knew what she was hinting at, but decided to remind her of a greater hope.  Before letting the words of Jesus sink into her soul, Martha stuffed the infinite God in to a box of her own making.  "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.", she says, almost rolling her eyes.  We can almost hear her think, there Jesus goes again, being all spiritual, he had the power to save my brother and didn't, know he's hiding behind eternal hope again.  Why can't Jesus be more practical!  Jesus could feel her frustration and gives her what she needs (but doesn't want): a theology lesson.  

"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?".  This is one of the most profound theological statements in the Bible.  Jesus is telling Martha that He is the embodiment of the doctrine of the resurrection that she knows so well.  And what does she come back with?  The "right" answer: "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."   Now that Martha has said her peace, she tells Mary that "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."  Isn't that something that is just like a Martha to do... She couldn't talk any sense into Jesus, maybe her sister could.

Mary comes out to Jesus, falls before him and weeps. The Bible tells us that Jesus "groaned in the Spirit", which means, Jesus felt empathy.  The Almighty God feels our pain.  Remembering that when I am going through a hurtful time in my life, always seems to help.  

Mary didn't need doctrine, she needed Daddy (Abba).  Mary comes out and repeats exactly what her sister said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." And bursts into tears.  All the the slogans we say to try to take away the pain meant nothing, all the doctrine in the world didn't matter, she was hurting and she needed her Daddy.  His child was broken, that broke His heart.  "Where have you laid him?"

Too many times we come to Jesus with a Martha attitude.  We come, in almost an accusatory fashion, looking for answers.  Nine times out of ten, proper doctrine will answer those questions, but bring no relief.  Proper doctrine is needed, but when we are hurting, we need to cry out to our Daddy who transcends doctrine.