It had to be a dramatic moment. Sadness. Hopelessness. Disappointment. Mourning. The atmosphere was saturated with these emotions. The people cried. Jesus cried. In that moment a decision had to be made that would forever change the lives of two sisters.
Jesus was about to perform one of His most significant, most astounding miracle of His Ministry (second only to His own resurrection)…raise a man from the grave after four days of death. And the only thing standing between Jesus and the miracle was a simple act of faith, a submission to a request.
“Take away the stone,” Jesus commanded. Martha protested.
Martha, a proper Jewish woman, did not want to dishonor her brother’s grave. The decaying body had become offensive and she did not want to “offend” the mourners, her friends and family with the smell.
I believe Martha’s decision at that moment determined if there would be a supernatural resurrection or a natural burial; whether those around would marvel or mourn. The decision was hers.
God wants to do the miraculously in all of our lives. He wants to resurrect areas we thought were hopeless. He wants to turn our mourning into marveling. He wants us to walk on water. But often, like with Martha, He requires us to be willing to give Him in the “smelly” areas of our lives. He requires us to take risks, step out in faith, expose ourselves to ridicule, get out of the religious boxes we have created. He stands before us like He did with Martha and reminds us, “If we believe we will see the glory of God.”
What act of faith is God requiring of you today? What stone is He asking you to remove? Trust Him. You will see the miraculous. You will see resurrection. Believe and you will see the glory of God.
“Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?””
John 11:38-40 NIV