Man has needs. Tonight we are going to discuss 5 needs that man has as seen in the experience of Mary with Jesus.
The first need is for the glorious message of Christ. READ v. 28. Last study, we were with Martha and Jesus and Martha told Jesus, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
This great confession apparently struck some kind of hope within Martha. Just what she was expecting, maybe she didn’t even know, but there was a spark of hope. Here Lord was now with her. Whatever could be done would be done. Whatever help was available would be given. Here faith and trust were in Jesus.
Only one thing was missing; her sister Mary. So she hurried to share the glorious news with her.
1. The Teacher. The definite article “the” is important. Jesus wasn’t just a teacher but THE teacher. That means, to Martha, Jesus was the supreme teacher, the Master, the Lord, the Teacher of all men.
2. Then she added, “The Teacher is here.” In other words, the answer that we so desperately need is now available. The One who can give us the help we need has now come. The Teacher who can teach us how to meet all of our needs, our troubles, our trials, our sorrow and hurt, our loneliness and emptiness is here.
3. Then Martha said, “The Master asks “for you.” Jesus calls and summons you. He wonders where you are and why you haven’t come. He wants you now.
READ 29-30. The second need that man has is to make the right response to Christ—the response of arising quickly and running to Him.
The message of Christ is enough to stir Mary. It’s enough to stir action within the heart of any person who honestly seeks the answer to the riddle and trials of life and death.
When Mary heard, she responded quickly. The idea is that she jumped up quickly and ran to meet Jesus. Hope and expectation were stirred in her heart. Did you notice that this message to Mary had come to here in a very quiet manner? V. 28 say Martha took Mary aside. So the message was delivered in a quiet manner, secretly, in a whisper, without anyone else knowing it. What this says is that no matter how quietly the message is proclaimed, a person is to respond by arising quickly and running to meet Jesus.
Mary acted on her own and made her own decision. She didn’t consult with anyone, not even with those who were closest to her. She got up and went to Jesus leaving friends and neighbors behind. The religionists were there trying to comfort her in the loss of her brother but she said nothing to them either.
She didn’t think about who would be at the house to receive the guests who came offering their condolences. She didn’t think of the distance. Jesus was still on the outskirts of Bethany. It was a considerable distance for her to walk. She didn’t consider what her guests might think. Jesus called her and all she was concerned about was responding. Oh, if only the lost of today would respond like that. One of man’s needs is to respond yet so many fight it service after service.
READ 31. Even though Mary left abruptly, the third need of man is for people, friends and neighbors to reach out to help each other. This is a touching picture. When the neighbors and friends saw Mary leave quickly, they thought she was going to the tomb to mourn over Lazarus. They were with her to comfort her so they followed her.
Note what happened. They, too, were brought face to face with Jesus. Because they were set on comforting Mary, they, too, were hare in Mary’s experience with Christ. They, too, were given the opportunity to trust Christ. In fact, many did believe, p\or put their faith in Him. We will see that in v. 45.
These friends and neighbors set the example for helping others. Note the result of sincere help. It doesn’t go unnoticed by Christ. Many are brought to Christ when they help those who already know Christ.
READ 32. The 4th need of man is the confession of faith, even if the faith is limited and weak. As soon as Mary saw Jesus, she fell at his feet in homage and worship and made a confession of faith in Him.
She called him “Lord.” But she expresses the same complaining, limited faith that Martha did. The thought behind this is that man has a need to make a genuine confession of faith no matter how weak that faith may be. We still need to make that confession. Even if one’s belief and confession are weak, they will grow as one walks with Jesus day by day.
READ 33-36. The 5th need that man has is the understanding, feelings, and compassion of Jesus. Jesus was deeply moved in spirit. Jesus saw how sincere Mary was in her sorrow and He was touched by her need. The Jewish friends and neighbors were sincere in comforting her, and many were open to trusting the Lord. (v. 45). Jesus was touched by those as well.
So when we look at this whole scene, it seems that Jesus is gripped with intense emotion. He was deeply moved. . .
• By Mary, who was so broken in sorrow.
• By Martha, who was gripped by pain and hurt.
• By those who were really feeling the death of Lazarus and the sorrow of the family.
• By the terrible tragedy of death and the pain it causes.
• By the terrible price He was soon to pay conquering death. (Surely Jesus was getting a glimpse of what was to come for Him.
Jesus is deeply moved in spirit. He is moved in understanding, and feeling, and compassion for all who are hurting and suffering. When it says that He was “troubled” in v. 33 it means He was agitated, moved deeply, disturbed within. He was feeling the pain and misery of it all.
Jesus asks where Lazarus was laid. Jesus knew where the grave was, but He asked where it was for 2 reasons.
1. If He had gone straight to the tomb, there was the possibility of some charging Him and Lazarus with tricking the people.
2. He needed to distract the people from their deep wailing and arouse their expectation for something unusual about to happen.
Jesus wept in love. Why? He wept over death, over man’s pain, sorrow, and suffering. Man wasn’t made for sin and death, not originally. Man was made for righteousness and life. Jesus sees how sin and death will deceive and lie, and hurt, and separate us. He was deeply moved by it all and weeps.
READ 37. Here we see the misunderstanding of man. The people asked the same question that is so often asked by men of every generation. How could Jesus love so much and let this happen? The problem, of course, is not Jesus. People just don’t understand that the nature of the world is decay and corruption. The nature of the world is trial and trouble, suffering and pain, death and hell—all because of selfishness and sin. And people just don’t understand that trials and sickness can be an opportunity for God to do a great work.
So to recap, we can see that every person has some great needs.
1. The need for the glorious message of Christ.
2. The need for the right response—that is, to arise quickly and come to Christ.
3. The need to reach out and help other people. If you ever want to pull yourself out of depression and anxiety, help someone else.
4. The need for the confession of faith, even if it’s limited and weak.
5. The need for Jesus’ understanding, feelings, and compassion.
