Disappointed by Jesus

Her name was Martha. She was a friend of Jesus. Martha took care of Jesus – she fed Him and hosted Him in her home. She listened to His teaching and she believed Him. So when her brother was sick it was only natural for her to reach out to her friend. Jesus could heal. She knew that firsthand, so she knew He could heal her brother, no matter how sick he was.

Martha and her sister sent messengers with the urgent task to find Jesus. The messengers went and came back, but Jesus didn’t return with them. Her brother continued to grow sicker and sicker until the final tragedy came – his death.

Martha’s heart was broken. Not only had she lost her beloved brother, her friend had disappointed her. She knew Jesus could have helped, but why didn’t He come when she needed Him most? Didn’t He care? Didn’t he love her and her family? Why, if He had the power to heal did He choose to stay away?

Can you relate to Martha?

Maybe you trust Jesus. You walk with Him, serve Him, and believe He is all powerful. But then, in a moment of great need, you call out to Jesus. And you wait. You believe at any moment He will come through – He will provide, He will heal, He will meet your need… but times goes by and nothing happens. Or maybe like Martha your greatest fear becomes reality and your life is marked by tragedy and pain.

For Martha, four long days passed after her brother died and then she heard Jesus was on His way. As soon as she heard the news, she went to meet her friend. You can hear the pain laced in her first words to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (John 11:21-21 ESV) Martha didn’t stop believing in Jesus, but she clearly didn’t understand why Jesus didn’t use His power to help her.

I’ve been there. I have questioned God. God, I know you love me, but why don’t I feel your love? God, I know you can provide, but why do you choose not to provide? God, I know you are good, but this situation doesn’t feel good or right. God, I thought I heard your voice, but everything about where I am is confusing and painful.

Though I don’t often admit it, there have been times I’ve felt let down, disappointed, and frustrated with Jesus. And my guess is, you have too.

Let’s look back at Martha’s story. I love how Jesus responds to her disappointment. He listens to her and He enters into dialogue with her. And most importantly, He reminds her of His promises. He expands her perspective and restores her belief. (Take a minute to read more in John 11:23-27)

After talking with Martha and her sister, Jesus goes with them to the grave of their brother. Standing there, Jesus breaks down and weeps. He enters into their pain. He is not unaffected by what is happening.

Then, in an amazing display of power, Jesus does something no one expected. Something not Martha or anyone else for that matter, thought was possible. Jesus raised Martha’s brother from the dead. He showed that He is in absolute control.

I believe that day Martha learned an important, life-changing truth. And it is summed up in the words Jesus said as He restored the life of her brother, “Did I not tell you if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). And in His prayer to God, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe you sent me.” (John 11:41-42)

Jesus helped Martha see that who He is does not change based on circumstances. Martha knew He was healer.  Jesus wanted her to know that not only could He heal, but He has the power over life and death. From Martha’s perspective, Jesus could have solved her problem and healed her brother. But Jesus wanted her to know that He has another perspective. He could see not just this one situation she was facing, but He sees all eternity. Jesus was helping Martha know Him and His Father more. He was using her and her family to point other people to Him.

Martha story doesn’t answer every question I have, but it does remind me that my God never fails. Sometimes my life or my circumstances seem to tell me that God’s promises are not true. But that is because I can only see from my perspective. As my friend, Jesus not only loves me, but He wants me to know Him and the Father more. He wants my life to point other people to Him. That may take me on a different path than I would choose. And that path may be hard and difficult, but that path also has a greater purpose. And on that path, I will see the power of God in ways that I can never anticipate or imagine.