2026 Lent Devotions
Friday, March 20
John 11:1-27
1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather, it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble because they see the light of this world. 10 But those who walk at night stumble because the light is not in them.” 11 After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” 13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”
“… “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” …”
While most would look at the story of the raising of Lazarus and see the climax as the dead man coming out of the tomb, it is this sentence which truly forms the center of the story. Martha’s proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, is crucial to all that comes before and all that follows. Certainly, Lazarus returning to life gets the majority of the press, but it is Martha’s words that carry the most import.
After all, up until this time in John’s Gospel, Jesus’ identity as Messiah and Son of God have been hinted at or mentioned in a roundabout way. However, here on Martha’s lips, who Jesus is, is clearly stated. There can be no doubt about Jesus’ true identity now. It’s not just assumed, it’s real.
That leaves us with only one avenue to follow: Like Martha, acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah – the Anointed One of God – and as Son of God whom God has sent into the world. He who is acclaimed as living water, bread from heaven, light of the world, good shepherd, and resurrection and life is none other than the Messiah and Son of God. It’s no wonder this passage comes just before the account of Jesus’ passion, suffering, and death.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are Messiah and Son of God. Thank you for revealing Yourself to Martha and world. To You, I give all glory and honor and praise, now and forever. Amen.