John 11:28-32 (NIV)
And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Martha wasn’t sure what Jesus was intending to do, but her history with Him (He never sat idly by when there was a genuine need), and His cryptic words gave her the intense sensation that something amazing was about to happen. So, she ran back into town, back into the house, and breathlessly whispered to her sister, “The teacher is here and is asking for you.”
No more needed to be said. Though there was no hope left in Mary’s heart for Lazarus, still the presence of the teacher was a very good thing. So, she quickly and wordlessly got up and went outside. Those present to mourn with the sisters had no idea what Martha had whispered to Mary, but her rapid reaction and departure made them think that she had been overcome by grief and was headed to the tomb to cry there. So, they followed her out the door.
But they were immediately confused. Mary and Martha weren’t headed for the tomb but had gone in a different direction entirely. It was only when they saw Jesus and His disicples standing at the edge of town that they understood. Someone else had come to visit the family, and they were dutifully going out to greet them.
But imagine their surprise when, instead of trading the traditional middle-eastern kiss with the newcomers, they saw Mary fall at the man’s feet! Those who recognized Jesus most likely saw it as a further sign of grief. But some there did not know who this man was, or why Mary was acting this way.
Mary’s opening words to Jesus were identical to those of Martha.: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” And they were spoken with the same tone of disappointment. “If only.”
Father, often when we are in the midst of circumstances, and when our eyes are fully focused on the darkness, we don’t notice when the light first appears. Mary, Martha, and the others were so focused on their hopelessness, disappointment, and grief, that they were slow to see that hope, restoration, and joy had just walked onto the scene, and that everything was going to be good again. Help me, Lord, any time I find myself in the dark, to look up right away so that I can see Your light coming into the situation. Amen.