John 11:17-23 17Then, when Jesus came, he found him already having been in the tomb four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia. 19And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary in order that they might console them concerning their brother. 20So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she met him, but Mary was seated in the house. 21Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
The situation was bad when Jesus and his disciples arrived in Bethany. The dead were typically buried the same day they died, so Lazarus had been dead at least four days. The number four might be significant in Jewish belief. A later rabbinic document called Leviticus Rabbah 18:1 records the belief that a soul lingered around a body for three days, after which the body began to decompose. Coming on the fourth day quelled any questions among the people that Lazarus was certainly dead and in the tomb. Bethany was fifteen stadia or a little less than two miles from Jerusalem. Most people can walk two miles in less than an hour. Evidently, this family was well known and loved with many Jews making the walk over to be with Martha and Mary. Adding to the prominence and possible wealth of this family is the next story and the expensive perfume Mary used to anoint Jesus.
Martha becomes the focus of the story in the next few verses. When she heard Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him. The tone of her response in verse 21 can only be imagined. Her response almost sounds like a scold or complaint. It shows that she believed Jesus could have healed Lazarus if he had come earlier. Verse 22 reveals remarkable faith and confidence in Jesus. In spite of Lazarus being dead for four days, Martha believed Jesus could still do something about the situation. Martha’s personality comes out in this passage and the incident in Luke 10:38-42 where she was the one of the two sisters who confronted Jesus about Mary’s lack of help in the kitchen. Martha was not afraid to voice her opinion on matters. She also comes across as someone who did not give up easily.
The extent of her faith in verse 22 is difficult to know. What could Jesus do in this situation? She had noticed how Jesus prayed and that his prayers were answered. He had a closeness to God that no one else had. Yet, her faith needed to grow into resurrection faith. Jesus’ simple response in verse 23 gave her faith the opportunity to grow. Jesus gave her a test. His delay in coming was as much for her as it was for his disciples. Both Martha and Mary believed in Jesus but needed to go deeper in their faith. They model to the reader of this Gospel growing discipleship that needs full commitment and consecration.
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