Daily Devotions

Posts tagged “Mary and Martha

Resurrection and Present Fact

MARTY GABLER—As the people of God assemble today may they rejoice in the resurrection of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Martha spoke of resurrection in terms of an end-time doctrine. JESUS spoke of resurrection in terms of that which is a present fact applicable to present circumstances. JESUS was challenging Martha to see it and experience it BEFORE the Last Day.  If JESUS cannot raise us from the death of failure (“death”: termination or extinction of something; cessation of all vital functions), from the death “of ceasing of function”, from the death of “not functioning because of fault or breakdown”, how can He raise us from the dust at the Last Day?
Here at Bethany, where JESUS is speaking to Martha, He is only two miles from Jerusalem where He healed one who had been diseased for 38 years; He healed one who had been blind since birth; now He raised one who had been dead for four days. Surely He can raise you up today. I like this definition of resurrection: “to stand up again.” Rejoice, it’s Resurrection Day! You can stand up again because Resurrection is a Person! (v.25) Jn.11:23—“Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  24  Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”


To Stand Up Again

As the people of God assemble on Resurrection Sunday may their minds be on the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Martha spoke of resurrection in terms of an end-time doctrine. JESUS spoke of resurrection in terms of that which is a present fact applicable to present circumstances. JESUS was challenging Martha to see it and experience it BEFORE the Last Day.  If JESUS cannot raise us from the death of failure (“death”: termination or extinction of something; cessation of all vital functions), from the death “of ceasing of function”, from the death of “not functioning because of fault or breakdown”, how can He raise us from the dust at the Last Day?
Here at Bethany, where JESUS is speaking to Martha, He is only two miles from Jerusalem where He healed one who had been diseased for 38 years; He healed one who had been blind since birth; now He raised one who had been dead for four days. Surely He can raise you up today. I like this definition of resurrection: “to stand up again.” Rejoice, it’s Resurrection Day! You can stand up again because Resurrection is a Person! (v.25)  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 at the last day.”  25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (Jn.11:23-25, NKJV)


When Prophecy Disappoints

A big name ministry guy with a very large following on social media made a video sometime back after a couple of prophecies “didn’t come to pass” (at least in the manner and timing he thought they should have). He was making a very upset face and speaking to everyone like they were errant children while letting Christians know how embarrassed he was at the behavior of those still declaring the verity of said prophecies. He said that everyone should “just get over it and face the fact” that those prophecies weren’t true and those things weren’t going to happen.”  That gentleman might should just go ahead and follow his philosophical train of thought and apply it to Abraham and Sarah. He might want to use his present agitated rule of thumb and tell them that they just need to suck it up and admit that they are barren and just get on with life and have some more Ishmaels that will complicate matters for the world and complicate nationhood for Israel even more completely. Then that videoing gentleman could march right over into the New Testament and tell Mary and Martha to just admit that Lazarus is dead, dead, dead and they just need to get on with their life because if Jesus was going to resurrect him, it would have already been done by now and certainly not on the fourth day when he is stinking. Then his point of view/opinion would most certainly instruct them to stop embarrassing the local rabbis and synagogues and just go ahead and seal up the smelly tomb so it doesn’t offend the community. In Jn.11:37 the people there were trying to tell Mary and Martha that if Jesus didn’t act within a timeframe and a manner which met their local approval that Jesus was false. However, if God doesn’t show Himself to be One who speaks and acts beyond our capacities to understand Him and all aspects of all circumstances, then He is too small and too weak to deliver His people. If every mouthy religious pundit and every verbose political pundit that comes along can know all the plans and timing of Almighty God and demand that He stick unwaveringly to them, then we will be of all people most miserable. 2Pe.3:8-9,Amp—“Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day.  9  The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”


Resurrection From Dead Dreams

As the people of God assemble on Resurrection Sunday may the power of that very Resurrection fill the room and fill each person. May He, Who IS the Resurrection revive all the dreams and all the visions that have died AnticipationJumpWavesor ceased to function in each one. May we come through Resurrection Sunday standing up again and going out in the name of the Lord preaching His ever-expanding Kingdom that those who are captive might be set free in King Jesus’ resurrection power for the purposes of our Lord.
Rom.6:4,TPT—“Sharing in his death by our baptism means that we were co-buried with him, so that when the Father’s glory raised Christ from the dead, we were also raised with him. We have been co-resurrected with him so that we could be empowered to walk in the freshness of new life.”