From Background Notes [BN] for July 21st & 22nd
written by Pastor Bob Brown:
He is really asking her, “Do you believe me, the source of eternal life — of resurrection life?” He is not prepping her for a catechism exam, he is inviting her to receive from him the life that cannot be touched by death. “Jesus is bringing Martha a present power, not the promise of a future good.”
He is really asking her, “Do you believe me, the source of eternal life — of resurrection life?” He is not prepping her for a catechism exam, he is inviting her to receive from him the life that cannot be touched by death. “Jesus is bringing Martha a present power, not the promise of a future good.”
In the moment of Martha’s greatest personal tragedy, the death of her brother, she utters perhaps the strongest words of faith in Jesus. She does not come to this fidelity in him on her own, though she comes to him with her fidelity — meager as it was. Harassed by critical doubt and the anxiety of the moment, Martha follows the words of Jesus to their faithful conclusion. Help for Martha lies beyond the creed of future resurrection. Help for Martha isn’t about the immortality of the soul or life after death. Help for Martha is found in Jesus, whom she will one day know more clearly than she does now — as the dying and rising one, who is alive forevermore, and who offers her life as well.[BN, 12-13]
Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene:
* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am, 5:30pm
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