Lord if you had been here...
Oh, how OFTEN I feel the same sentiments in my daily life, especially with such heavy decisions lately. While at first this can sound hasty, or presumptuous, maybe even like testing God, I think it also shows much faith on Martha's part. She knows that of which Jesus is capable. She's been there for His miracles, has traveled as a disciple with the other women who followed Him. She has no doubt of His friendship.
Then He goes on to explain that He is the resurrection and the life. What was a situation concerning Lazarus suddenly gets flipped on her, and she is the one experiencing resurrection. This is not just a body-rising-at-death event, but a daily offering of our souls and lives. While Martha's sadness is appropriate in the situation, Jesus has challenged her to transcend that sadness into faith.
Sadness so often becomes our stopping point, and if there's ever hope expressed, even that can seem pessimistic ("I know things will get better eventually.") Hope is now. We can't put off hope when Jesus is in our midst. True, if He had been there, the story might have gone quite differently. But He is here now. Make the most of His Presence.
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