A few years ago, I read about Lewis and Clark, two famous explorers commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to find a water route that connected the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. This discovery was seen as vital for trade routes, as significant then as the internet is for commerce today. People had been searching for it for over 300 years, fully convinced it existed—it was just a matter of time.
Lewis and Clark, after 15 months of battling harsh conditions, believed they were about to achieve this monumental goal. They thought one more hill would reveal the route, that the hardest part of the journey was over. But when they reached the top, they didn’t see a gentle river. Instead, they were faced with the daunting Rocky Mountains.
In that moment, their "geography of hope" became a "geography of reality." This shift—from hope to hard reality—mirrors many of our personal experiences. We all have stories where expectations don’t match up with reality. We climb a hill expecting smooth sailing, only to be met with mountains we never anticipated.
Today, as we continue our series The Power of Your Pain, we’ll explore the story of Lazarus and see how Jesus steps into the geography of our reality, offering something in the midst of our unmet expectations.
Facing the Reality of Unmet Expectations
If you have your Bible, turn to John 11, where we’ll pick up the story of Lazarus. Last week, we learned how Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, sent word to Jesus about their brother's sickness. Jesus didn’t respond immediately—He stayed where He was for two days, stating that His delay would bring glory to God and grow the disciples' faith. In the meantime, Lazarus passed away.
By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead for four days, a significant detail considering Jewish superstition believed a soul lingered near the body for three days. By waiting four days, Jesus made sure there was no alternative explanation for what He was about to do.
At this point, Mary and Martha are deep in grief, and the reality of Lazarus’s death has set in. Martha rushes to meet Jesus, while Mary stays behind—a telling contrast in how the two sisters handle their sorrow, a subject we’ll dive into more next week.
When Martha meets Jesus, she says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). This heavy statement echoes a question many of us have asked: “God, where were you?” We've all felt the sting of unmet expectations—believing God would act in one way, only to experience something entirely different. In Martha’s case, she expected Jesus to show up sooner and heal her brother. But He didn’t.
The Struggle of Logic Versus Faith
Martha’s response continues: “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you” (John 11:22). This shows us Martha's head and heart struggle. She knows Jesus can still do something miraculous, yet she’s hurt by His delay.
In John 11:23-24, Jesus tells her, “Your brother will rise again,” and she responds with theological knowledge: “I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Martha is giving a textbook answer, something she likely repeated to others in their condolences. But in her heart, she’s saying, “That doesn’t help me with the pain I feel right now.”
We often do the same. We know God has a plan, and we try to comfort ourselves with that truth. But the immediacy of our pain can make distant promises feel far away. Jesus knew this, and that’s why He responds in John 11:25-26 by saying, “I am the resurrection and the life.” He offers Martha—and us—a hope that isn’t far off, but present right in the midst of our pain.
Do You Believe This?
After declaring, “I am the resurrection and the life,” Jesus asks Martha, “Do you believe this?” He’s challenging her to move beyond head knowledge and into heart-level belief.
In moments of pain, we often know the “right answers.” We know God is with us. We know He has a plan. But Jesus isn’t asking if we know these things—He’s asking if we believe them.
This is a key question for us too. In the midst of pain and unmet expectations, do we still believe that Jesus is our greatest need? Do we believe that He can meet us in our grief and bring life where there seems to be only death?
Faith's Foothold
In John 11:27, Martha answers, “Yes, Lord, I believe.” Bible commentator James Boice calls this “faith’s foothold.” Martha’s confession didn’t take away her pain or bring Lazarus back to life—yet. But it was a step forward in her faith journey. In moments of doubt and sorrow, this foothold is what we need to begin climbing toward greater faith and trust in Jesus.
Martha didn’t know the end of the story—that Jesus was about to perform a miracle and bring Lazarus back. Similarly, in our pain, we don’t always know what God is doing behind the scenes. But like Martha, we can choose to trust that He is with us, that He is our resurrection and life, and that He can bring hope even in the midst of our unmet expectations.
