In this passage, we see Martha mourning the death of her brother Lazarus. “If thou hadst been here…,” or in other words, “Where were you, Jesus? If you had been here this would not have happened.” But, even in this time of questioning and doubt, Martha asserts her faith in her Lord. She proclaims that even at this point God can do anything. Jesus proceeds to tell her the new that we would assume she is longing to hear. “Thy brother shall rise again.” What a blessed thought! But this brings little comfort to Martha. She over-spiritualizes the comments and says something along the lines of, “I know one day he will rise up with everyone in that great resurrection of the dead.” To which Jesus replies, “I am the resurrection.”

My question is this – what would you have said? When people come to us after the death of a loved one, would we tell them? Martha, with a house filled with mourners, already has her thoughts on the future. “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. I guess our modern equivalent would be, “I know I will see him again in Heaven.” That seems to be our favorite form of consolation. “We’ll understand it better by and by…” the old gospel song tells us. Someday this will all make sense. Just have faith – but what kind of faith are we promoting? A faith in the future?

Jesus does not agree with her, though her comment may have been theologically correct. Instead of pointing to the future, He points to Himself. We get this vague idea of Heaven as a place of everlasting splendor and rest. Yet, what makes Heaven heaven, is it is the abiding place of God. We shall see Jesus. Though Heaven will be a great place, what makes it great is its chief inhabitant: God Himself. Streets of gold, gates of pear, walls of Jasper… They are nothing less than spectacular, but the longing of every believing soul ought to be for the presence of God. While we may be captivated by Biblical descriptions of our future surroundings, the human mind cannot begin to fathom the awesome sight of King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I cannot understand how even heavenly bodies would be capable of containing any other thought after having seen that sight. The thought of God should stretch the human imaginations beyond the limitless boundaries of eternity.

Yet, we are not there yet. But God has not left us alone. He desires that each of us maintain an intimate, personal relationship with Him. WE do not have to wait for heaven to cultivate that. Our greatest joy and greatest comfort on earth is not a future ahead, but living and abiding in Christ. He is our Comforter. Our greatest need is not hope, but Christ.