Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” (John 11:40)

Read: Jeremiah 37:11 – 38:28, Ezekiel 1:1 – 3:15

Relate: Did you ever have one of those “aha” moments when an earlier conversation all of a sudden makes a bit more sense? Perhaps it was a joke somebody told and suddenly, just before falling asleep, you’re sitting up in bed laughing as you finally get it. No? Am I the only slow witted one in the house right now? Somehow everything seems to fall into place and you find yourself like:

I can picture Martha having one of these moments when Jesus turns to her and says, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” A week back when I wrote Rise, I wrote about how I didn’t think Jesus and Martha were quite on the same page when Jesus told her “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.” He was talking about right here and right now and she was thinking about some vague eschatological future. Now there’s some guys heaving away at that 2 ton stone and, forgive my interpretive license, Jesus turns and gives her a verbal wink.

React: One thing about taking the entire year going through the book of John like this, it sure slows things down. Before September gets here I will be starting the Passion week and I’ll get to spend most of the rest of the year digging into the final seven days culminating in the Resurrection. I can’t wait. Even now I’ve spent two weeks building up the story of Lazarus. I’ve still got two more days before we hear the words, “Lazarus, come forth.” I can barely wait and I’m half tempted to just skip ahead and write the next two days early.

I think that’s how we get sometimes with those “aha” moments. Once we finally get plugged into exactly what and how God is going to move, all we can do is just stand there in wide eyed wonder. Once we truly believe… we have the glorious honor and privilege of being able to see.

Respond: 

God, even my believing cannot happen apart from Your grace. There is no way in my own power, through my own reasoning, to truly understand what You have done and what You will do. Fortunately, You have revealed Yourself and You continue to do so. Open my eyes. Help me to believe so that I might be able to see You in all Your glory.