John 11:23-24

Being the pious Jewess lady that she was - educated, equipped and efficient - Martha knew her Scriptures. When Jesus stated: "Your brother will rise again", her mind must have flashed instantly to the Prophet Daniel’s words prophesying the future promise of the resurrected life:

2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Dan 12:2-3 (NIV)

Earlier in John, Jesus had previously attested to the fact that this universal resurrection would be accomplished through Him although Martha had not yet quite grasped this Truth:

24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. 28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. John 5:24-30 (NIV)

40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40 (NIV)

Jesus’ life giving achieving power can call a person out of the grave or from their tomb or from spiritual death to life eternal. At His command, there will be a future universal resurrection. It was this universal resurrection that will occur at the last day that Martha alluded to. She was aware that Lazarus would rise again on that day yet she was unaware that it would be through Jesus. Ever like our Lord to know where to begin a conversation – He loves to draw out the faith and knowledge of His followers by degrees. In Martha He sees this spark of faith and He lovingly leans down and begins to fan it into flame.

“A fixed, constant attention to the promises, and a firm belief in them, would prevent solicitude and anxiety about the concerns of this life. It would keep the mind quiet and composed in every change, and support and keep up our sinking spirits under the several troubles of life...Christians deprive themselves of their most solid comforts by their unbelief and forgetfulness of God’s promises. For there is no extremity so great but there are promises suitable to it, and abundantly sufficient for our relief in it.” Samuel Clarke

Our Lord was about to draw Martha further still in her faith. While she believed for certain in a universal resurrection on the last day, Jesus was about to clarify to her through Whom that even she herself would be enabled to stand and live. Out of this calamity, He was about to show her certain victory. Daniel had prophesied some would awaken to everlasting life while sadly others to everlasting shame and contempt. He also wrote that those who were wise would shine and those who lead others to righteousness would be as bright as the stars – their glorified bodies shining forth with splendor and honor. Jesus clarifies this prophecy by telling us that those who hear His Word and believe His message have crossed from death to life, having both abundant life now and eternal life later. Interestingly, if while living we remain dead to His message, how dare we to think we will hear His voice when dead and then subsequently live?

Jesus quite clearly states to His unbelieving Jewish hearers earlier in John:

42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. John 8:42-43 (NIV)

45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." John 8:45-47 (NIV)

“When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, Our Father’s full giving is only begun. His love has no limit; His grace has no measure. His pow’r has no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!” Annie Johnson

“Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!” Henry van Dyke