John 11:37-40

³⁷ But some of them said, “Wouldn’t he who was able to open the blind man’s eyes also have made it so that this person would not die?”

³⁸ Then Jesus, deeply moved inside himself again, came to the tomb. But it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.

³⁹ Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stink because it is four days.”

⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I say to you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

no matter how long

Martha had gone to retrieve her sister, Mary, who had stayed home with the townspeople, in mourning. Mary came out to join them. They seem to be expecting something. I think they are expecting the resurrection of all the dead. But Jesus asked to be taken to a particular tomb – that of Lazarus, their brother. Martha points out that Lazarus would be stinking by this time.

Jesus wants Martha to keep believing, and he wants her to know that nothing will be an obstacle when he raises the dead. He wants us to know that too. No matter how long it has been, no matter what condition the bodies are in – even if there are no bodies any longer – Jesus is going to raise the dead.

Thank you, Lord, for your promise to raise the dead.