Joh 11:19  And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Joh 11:20  Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

It seemed to be a universe now devoid of hope. A good man was dead.  A man beloved in his community. A man who would never hurt or take advantage of anyone. He was the consummate neighbor who lent a hand when needed, loaned out tools if someone even hinted at needing something, and gave charitable time to whatever cause bettered his society. But now the compassion halls of his life were unlit and dimmed by unexpected death. Sickness that should have passed became something more sinister. And not only that, he was friends with a Healer. But while Jesus was in another part of the country, delaying his attendance, the bone-brittling cold gust of death and grief blew through Bethany.

The funeral had already been officiated. The frigid body already lain on the cool slab. The demarcation of light and utter lightlessness was as sharp as a painted line at the inner edge of the cave where Lazarus mummified body resided. His sisters, Martha and Mary, didn’t understand why Jesus had not arrived sooner. And then came the news that he was indeed at the edge of town. Martha sprinted out the door. But Mary, too grief stricken, too paralyzed by sorrow sat still. She remained idle.

And here it is. The sky is blue, but so is your heart; a sunny day in contrast with a stormy soul. And you feel frozen in the shadows. Others have exited the halls of hurt. You still roam them frequently. Others have left behind the dark corners of distress; you still sit there like a punished student in a morbid class of bereavement. You got in there by a heartbroken unforeseen entrance. But now you can’t seem to find the exit.
Listen to this message and be motivated to make a move. Rise up in faith. Go forward in forgiveness.

Played: 70 | Download | Duration: 00:28:30