Martha runs to meet him at the city gate, and says "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask" (John 11:22). I want her faith. That even though her brother is dead, she is confident that God's power is not limited, in fact even now in the bleakest of bleak circumstances, God can intervene and do a miracle. Even now. Even now, Lord, you can heal Karis. You are not limited to her diagnosis. What comes next in this passage is interesting.
Jesus tells Martha her brother will be healed, and rise again, and she responds knowing he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus says to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
I don't think he asks this to find out for himself. He knows she believes this. He asks this question for her sake. She needs to hear herself respond to his call. Do I believe He is who he says he is? Even in my herdest of hardships? Is He still God? "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world" (Jn 11:27).
When they saw each other at the city gate, Jesus didn't ask her more about her brother or if she was sad or hurt, he asked her where her faith was. What does she thing about God in the midst of all of this heartache? That's what is important.
Jesus continues to ask me where my faith is. Do I believe He is who he says he is? No matter the outcome, do I believe he is God?
Yes, Lord, I believe....even now.
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