Ok. I want to continue in the progression of a lovesick heart. John 11. In verse two, John identifies Mary as the one who anoints Jesus’ feet, but this event has yet to happen at this point. John 12 comes after John 11 chronologically (for the gospels are not necessarily in chronological order- check out a harmony of the gospels). He is basically identifying her so she won’t be confused for someone else.
They send word to Jesus, presuming upon His love for Lazarus, for they know He loves them. Jesus declares His purposes in verse 4. He, purposefully, stays in the place where He is, instead of rushing to the aid of His sick friend. After this, He tells His disciples its time to go to Judea, which is a huge risk because many Jews were seeking to stone Him there. Jesus declares (11) “Our friend, Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go that I may awaken Him out of sleep.” The disciples say if he’s sleeping, he will get better. In essence, why would we wake someone up from sleeping, when they need their rest to recover? I love verse 14. Jesus basically says, “Look y’all, he’s dead!!!” I can see this kind of like one of those forehead smack moments where Jesus goes, “duh!” J One other interesting thing in this paragraph is the response of Thomas. Most of us think of this guy, when he is in his unbelief (John 20:24-29), but have we ever considered him, in his faith and boldness- ready to die with Jesus if He were stoned in Judea.
Martha is the first to go out to meet Jesus. In verse 21, she responds to His coming saying, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Can you see some of the accusation she has toward Him, not coming when He first got word. Jesus says that he will rise again and she responds: I know that! She is so bold! It seems like Martha has some forms of accusation and offense in her heart. Jesus questions her faith, asking her if she believes He is the resurrection and life, even in that moment.
She tells her sister Mary, He is calling her, so she goes out to meet Him, for He has not come into the city yet. The Jews follow her. Mary comes and speaks the same words as Martha, but look what happens to Jesus when she comes. “He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.” Jesus was visibly shaken, and groaned in His spirit, then it says, Jesus wept. What provokes the God-Man to groan and weep? Mary spoke the same words as Martha, but she had received His words (Luke 10:39- sitting at Jesus feet) and His words were living in her. She then postures her heart and self at His feet again, she speaks the same words- but it invokes groaning in the spirit of the Son of God. Her posture was that of lovesickness, saying “Though I’m troubled, and don’t know what to do, I’m not offended.” Her words and actions had weight, because she had received His words and cultivated them in her heart from the last visit.
In the midst of this beautiful picture of a lovesick heart, and the tenderness of Jesus toward her, He receives more accusation from the Jews (37). Jesus’ heart is being moved by the response of a lovesick heart (Mary), and He comes to the tomb. He tells them to remove the stone and Martha speaks up, showing unbelief and accusation: “there will be stench.” Jesus responds, as the One who has power over death, saying they need to believe. Jesus prays to the Father, and says the coolest thing, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me.” When has the Father already heard Him, when He is just now praying? I believe the answer is in verses 33 and 35. The groaning and weeping intercession of Jesus, had already risen to the Father, gaining authority in the heavens to manifest in power on the earth. He prays this out loud, that those around would believe, then calls out “Lazarus, come forth.” Why did He say his name when He could have just said “come forth?” I believe the authority and power of the God-Man’s groaning intercession was so great, that if He had not spoken his name, all the tombs and graves on the earth would empty! Oh, the power of the intercession of the Son of God.
Consider the power of a lovesick heart, without offense, even in the darkest times. This heart cries out in the darkest night “Jesus, Your leadership is perfect!” Her authority in intercession (speaking the words) came from the place of intimacy, sitting at Jesus’ feet (the one thing), receiving His words, and cultivating them in her heart. Intimate authority. I believe this miracle stirred Mary’s heart so much that it provoked her to the most beautiful, extravagant picture of lovesickness we will ever see. We’ll check that out next time.