March 23 Go to Jesus

John 11:28 And after Martha had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.
 
MARY had stayed in the house when Jesus arrived in Bethany. She had been the one, when Jesus first came to their house, to sit at his feet, humble and eager to learn. (Luke 10:39) But the Teacher, who also healed the sick, blind and lame, had not come in time to save Lazarus. How would Mary relate to Jesus? Would her disappointment keep her away? Or would her love for Jesus draw her near to him?
    We can thank God Mary’s love overruled her distress. It is a blessed assurance to know the Lord “is asking for you.” Quickly, Mary went to Jesus. She wanted to ask him, “Where were you? She also needed his comfort and longed for his touch. Mary could not resist his love. She needed to be in his presence. Where else would we want to be when we weep? Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
    See in these two sisters how we are to respond to God’s love in our distress. In the sisters’ perspective, Jesus was late. But Martha stepped out of her house to meet Jesus outside the village. In her grief, she still confessed her faith in his resurrection power. Hope rose in her heart as she heard Jesus’ promise, “Your brother will rise again.” Her faith strengthened as Jesus affirmed: John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”
    With hope and faith in her heart, Martha went to Mary. She wanted Mary to know this hope and faith, too. Martha, once too busy to go to Jesus, now tells Mary to go, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.”  Together they will witness a most unexpected, wondrous miracle.
    How is your hope? Is your heart full of faith in Jesus’ resurrection? Do you believe? Or do life’s disappointments keep you “at home”, away from the Teacher? If so, I urge you to get up and go to Jesus. You can do so when you get up in the morning to read the Bible, to know what God says, to know what God has done and to know his promises for you.
    Continue to go to him in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to God’s miracles around you. Ask for help to see Jesus’ resurrection power. Desire a true hope that his resurrection is for you and your loved ones. Seek a faith that will urge you to get up more eagerly each day to meet with your Lord. Martha and Mary each allowed busyness and grief to keep them from their Lord. Then in faith, they moved through those barriers to believe and trust Jesus.      
    Be as Martha. Go to Jesus. Invite those who “sit at home” to know, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” Be as Mary. Get up and go to Jesus when he calls. He’s calling your right now. Are you listening? Are you believing? Are you going?
 
Prayer: Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your resurrection power. I pray I live full of hope and faith, that I am eager to invite people to get up and go to you. Amen.