He whom You love is sick. – John 11:3
In his book “Practical Religion”, JC Ryle has a chapter on sickness. That chapter begins with the story of Lazarus in John 11. Lazarus, a friend of Jesus had taken gravely ill, his sisters, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus to come and heal their brother.
We learn two things in their message to Jesus. First, Mary and Martha exhibited child-like faith, they turned to Jesus in their time of need, knowing and believing that He was able to meet their need. Secondly, they were humble in their request. In their message to Jesus, they told Him that the person whom He (Jesus) loves is sick. “They do not say, “he who loves You, believes in You, serves You,” but “he whom You love.” Martha and Mary were deeply taught of God. They had learned that Christ’s love towards us, and not our love towards Christ, is the true ground of expectation, and true foundation of hope- Blessed, -again, are all those who are taught likewise! To look inward to our love towards Christ is painfully unsatisfying: to look outward to Christ’s love towards us is peace.”
Many times, when we come to God to pray and ask for a need for other believers, we are often tempted to list all the ways the person has served the Lord either by acts of service to the church or to others, especially if the person is in the ministry. We don’t see such here in Mary and Martha’s request.
Don’t miss the message in JC Ryle’s quote above. Many times, when we pray and ask for a need for other believers, we are often tempted to list all the ways that person has served the Lord either by acts of service to the church or to others, especially if the person is in the ministry. We don’t see such here in Mary and Martha’s request. When they sent for Jesus, they did not make their request based on their love or Lazarus’ love for Christ, but Christ’s love for Lazarus.
As JC Ryle said, our expectation and foundation of hope lies in Christ’s love towards us and not our love towards Him. Our peace comes from looking outward to Christ’s love and not inward to our love towards Christ. May the Lord continue to teach us to pray.
God Bless.