It is Mary’s turn to run to Jesus, and in the same or very similar way, pour out her grief to Jesus. We read this in verse 32 "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died". Like Martha there is this struggle of faith. There is both faith and doubt. Mary had no doubt that Jesus could have healed Lazarus if he had been there before death had taken hold of her brother, but she has little hope that anything can be done now. There is also a complaint behind her words. Mary is angry and upset that Jesus did not come, and there seems, as with Martha’s words, the accusation that he could or should have been with them to heal Lazarus before he died.

How like ourselves is the behaviour of both Martha and Mary. Faith and doubt, submission and complaint, all struggle together. When we view our own attitude and struggle, often we feel cast down that we have not been able to trust and be submissive as we know we should. This history has much to teach us and much comfort to bring us.

Firstly, both Martha and Mary went to Jesus with their trouble. They had sent word to Jesus when Lazarus fell sick. When Jesus comes, they both go to him and fall at his feet in prayer and worship. Here is the action of faith and trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, whatever weaknesses may be mixed with it. These godly women knew, just as we know, that Jesus is the Saviour to whom we can go, and the only one in the end who can help us, and that our lives are in his care and dominion. Both sisters showed in this action of going to Jesus that they owned him as Lord, and loved him, and their lives had been placed in his hands. Here is the evidence of true saving faith which can bring us comfort, even when we show much weakness and lack of faith in our coming to Jesus in our need.

Secondly, notice how Mary and Martha brought their need to Jesus, but at the same time showed their doubt and complaint. In their praying they were open with Jesus with all that was in their heart. Jesus did not cast them off because of their doubting and implied criticism. If anything his love went out to them even more deeply, if such a thing is possible when we remember the love of Jesus for us is full and perfect all the time.

This is the blessing we are all able to participate in. It would be wonderful if we had progressed in spirituality and faith so that we could be entirely submissive, never doubting or complaining, but the truth is, like these sisters we have not. Our privilege and blessing is that we can come to Jesus in prayer, and hide nothing from him, pouring out all our grief, sorrow, doubt and complaint, and he will understand, and his love will never cease. We shall find as Mary and Martha did, that our complaining is foolish, as Jesus has everything in hand and his purposes are sure. We shall also find that our doubt and complaining is unnecessary as God’s purposes are worked out.

Thirdly, let us notice the reaction of Jesus to the sorrow and pain, unnecessary though it was, of Mary and Martha. Jesus was not angry at their unbelief or their complaint. Rather his affectionate heart was moved with love for them, and this was shown in that he wept. Notice also how he was troubled and moved deeply in spirit by what he saw. Jesus is so moved when he sees the doubts and fears that we experience because we are unable to understand, and unable to believe, concerning his love and power and purpose and saviourhood for us.

So much of our sorrows and pains are unnecessary because Jesus has us in his care, and his purposes are in love for us and sure, and all will work together for our good, and our eternal security. It troubles Jesus and he grieves for us when he sees how filled with unnecessary sorrow we are. But this we may be sure of - that his love still surrounds us, and he will never, never, forsake us, and he will prove his loving purpose for us as time goes by. In heaven how we shall look back on our lives and see his continual purpose of love for us, and praise him.

Lastly, let us notice the limit of faith which Jesus was purposing to remove. The sisters expressed this limit, which is also expressed by the crowd in verse 37. The limit of faith was that Jesus could only help and save while life was still there. After a person had died, there was no more that Jesus could do.

This is the wonderful truth that Jesus is at pains to teach and verify in this chapter. He came to establish that he was able and will save to the uttermost, and that this saving goes beyond physical death into eternity. We come back to the great truth that we considered last time in the words of Jesus in verse 25 where Jesus tells us he is the resurrection and the life. Jesus saves from death and hell, and gives his people eternal life, and everlasting bliss. We have no need to fear death, for in Jesus and his salvation, death is the gateway to eternal life and joy.