A Pilgrim's Journal

When I read the New Testament, I see example after example of faith before healing. Usually it is the sick who have the faith. They confess that Jesus is able to perform the miracle, or the very act of picking up their mat shows that they believe enough to even start the process.

And then there are reports of places that Jesus would visit where He could do no great works. All he could do was lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. And the reason was because they didn't believe Him.

So when it comes to the story of Lazarus, who had the faith for this work?

It wasn't the Jews, for they didn't understand why Jesus wept.

It probably wasn't the disciples, because they aren't even mentioned once they arrive to the site of mourning.

I'm guessing it wasn't even Mary, because she was weeping at the feet of Jesus.

I doubt it was Lazarus, since he was dead.

But it could have been Martha.

She even hints very strongly that even now, after Lazarus was dead, God would give to Jesus anything He asked for. She doesn't quite come out and ask for him back, but she sure hints! And strongly!

And she confesses Jesus as the Christ, as Lord, and as the Son of God.

Martha tends to get a bad rap in the Bible, working hard and complaining about Mary not helping her. But when it comes to Lazarus, maybe she was the only one with tiny faith enough to bring him back.

Jesus of course carries her along, even as her faith falters a bit in verse 39. But she believed enough to state the seemingly impossible.

Praise the Lord! It's as if God is looking for any reasonable excuse to do us good, even a sideways hint that Jesus should raise the dead.