In A Pandemic, Do You Still Believe?

Introduction: Bethany is a small village, about 2 miles from Jerusalem. It is the place where Jesus found a safe refuge. Bethany is the place where "Simon the leper" lived and the home of three of Jesus closest friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. This village may justifiably be called the Judean home of Jesus, as He appears to have preferred to lodge there rather than in Jerusalem itself. Bethany was the place where Jesus found some real friends, friends with whom he could let down his hair. It is the place where few of his conversations are recorded. It was a place where he could be himself. He could sit anywhere, relax and be at ease. In Bethany, they were no Pharisee trying to catch him in his words, no one came for healing and no one was trying to get anything from him. Every man of God needs a Bethany. Even Messiahs need friends. The truth is that many pastors and leaders today are starving for that kind of friendship.

Our lesson carries us back to Bethany, where Jesus friends find themselves in great distress. Lazarus, the younger brother of Mary and Martha was sick unto death. The faithful sisters sent for Jesus but Jesus was delayed in coming them. By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus had been dead four days. What do you do when Jesus is late? He didn’t make it to the home, nor the funeral, nor the grave side service. Even though, Jesus loved this family, they were still subject to great trials of afflictions. John’s gospel gives us only eight signs to prove that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. He alone records the raising of Lazarus from the dead. This is a necessary miracle because many of us face dead situations. From relationships that died on the vine to brothers, sisters and loved ones who maybe dead in some sin, others bound by some vice that cripples them and has the potential to destroy them.

John began his miracles with Jesus at a wedding, and in this passage, we find him on the road to a funeral. Jesus shares in all that concerns us, and most of all in our grief. What do you do when there is trouble in the house? Can you still believe when dealing with dead situations? Has the Pandemic and loss shattered your faith? There is hope and help available! The sisters decided to send for the Master. His presence will make all things work for good. Although Mary and Martha are surrounded by people, these two bereaved sisters are longing to see the Lord. Without Jesus our friends are miserable comforters. They struggle to find the right, they don’t what to do and sometimes they unintentionally make bad matters worse. As soon as Martha hears of her Lord coming, she goes out to meet. Martha had earnestly expected the Lord's coming, and her active spirit led her to meet him. In this she is an example to us: our faith and hope and prayer, should go forth to meet the Lord in his ways of providence and grace. Her faith is engaged and she believes Jesus can still make a difference.

The purpose of the miracle seems to have been: (1) to show Jesus, Himself to be Lord of life and death just before He should be Himself condemned to die; (2) to strengthen the faith of His disciples; (3) to convert many Jews who were trapped in doubt (4) to cause the priests to hasten their movements so as to be ready when His hour had come (Plummer, HDB, III, 87). To deal successfully with dead situations, we must believe! Even during a deadly pandemic, we must believe! Even when we have suffered the loss of a loved one, we must keep believing.

1. We must believe enough to petition God in behalf of others.

John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Jesus looks beyond her distress and shortcomings and raises her level of expectation. Your brother will rise again…The very fact that Jesus shows up should raise our level of expectation. He can do what we cannot do…Believest thou this? That is the Question. Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Those dead, who believed in him, shall be raised and life, and those living who believe in Him shall never perish die eternally. Their death will only be a transition to a better existence. How do we deal with hopeless situations? How do we handle our dead situations of life? I hope this provides a ray of hope for each of us. First, we must believe! Jesus asked, “Believest thou this?” Do you believe God can change the situation? We must believe enough to petition God for others.