September 14

Martha Going to Jesus

So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him; but Mary stayed at home. — John 11:20 BSB

The coming of Jesus to the Bethany home had never been more welcome than on this day. It is the same for us—Christ is never so dear and precious as when we are in trouble. Our needs often reveal just how precious He is to us. Many people who don’t feel the need for a minister’s presence during times of prosperity are quick to call for one when sorrow comes. But this wasn’t the case with Martha. She had welcomed Christ into her home during happy days, and that made His coming in the time of sorrow even more of a blessing.

This teaches us an important lesson: the only true preparation for facing trials is personal friendship with Christ. If we wait to turn to the Bible for comfort until we are in the midst of great grief, we may find it difficult to receive much light from it. But if we have already welcomed the Word into our lives during the good times, its truth will be like lamps lighting up the dark places when trouble comes.

It’s like when tourists enter the Mammoth Cave. Before going into the darkness, each person is given a lighted lamp, even though it may seem unnecessary in the bright sunlight. But as they descend into the cave, they quickly realize the importance of the lamp, as it becomes their only source of light in the otherwise pitch-black surroundings. Similarly, some people don’t think they need Christ when life is going well, but when sorrow comes, they realize how much they need Him. If they’ve already welcomed Christ into their hearts, they’ll find that His light brightens the darkest moments. But without Him, the darkness turns into despair.