“Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God” (v. 40)? She did, to be sure, see God’s glorious raising up Lazarus. Nevertheless, she missed seeing even more glory – like Thomas, she didn’t believe until she saw. Confessional churches teach us wonderful truths. May we realize from Martha’s example that knowing them doesn’t prevent unbelief and blindness from blocking God’s glory.

“Lord, be with Aunt Josephine and relieve her pain!” We often pray this way for those we love, sometimes with tears. Does Scripture challenge us to greater ambition? After all, James cited Elijah, who prayed down a drought upon rebellious Israel, as a prayer role model (Jas. 5:17-18).

The Gospels give us four statements that shed light on prayer for distressed saints, three from Jesus’ own lips.

1. The man born blind:

“This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (Jn. 9:3 NIV).

That’s God’s works, plural (v. 3). Jesus not only gave him his sight; God steadily increased his apprehension of truth, even to powerful adversaries while thinking on his feet (vv. 9-12, 15-17, 25-33). Finally, Christ revealed Himself to him as the Son of God, which he confessed (vv. 35-38) – no greater work of God.

It takes little faith during distress to say “this too shall pass”. Eccl. 3:1 and experience confirm that seasons of distress are limited – though some continue until death. Why do we often add little more than this certainty to our prayers?

2. The raising of Lazarus:

“This illness…is…so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (Jn. 11:4, ESV).

Who but Jesus would purposefully put two of His best friends through four days’ mourning for His glory? Do we pray for that even more than relief from pain?

Let us note how Martha limited her beholding God’s glory, despite having grasped three amazing truths about Jesus.

First, despite Lazarus’ death, she still believed God would give Him whatever He asked (v. 22). Without her realizing it, that included raising Lazarus from the dead!

Second, she agreed that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. For her to be the first sinner to confess this before Jesus’ resurrection is trailblazing.

Finally, she joined Peter in giving the only recorded spontaneous pre-Resurrection confessions that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (vv. 25-27, cf. Mt. 16:18).

How poignant that Martha’s eyes didn’t then sparkle with comprehension as she exclaimed “You’ve come to raise my brother from the dead! I’ll run, get my sister, and meet you at the tomb!”

So close, yet so far! Despite knowing these staggering truths, she protested against removing the stone. Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God” (v. 40)?

She did, to be sure, see God’s glorious raising up Lazarus. Nevertheless, she missed seeing even more glory – like Thomas, she didn’t believe until she saw.

Confessional churches teach us wonderful truths. May we realize from Martha’s example that knowing them doesn’t prevent unbelief and blindness from blocking God’s glory.

3. Jesus’ own example as He faced the Cross:

“Father, glorify Your Name” (Jn. 12:28 ESV).

Jesus does not impose agony on us for His own glory only to shun His Father’s imposed agony for His Father’s glory. Asking the Father to spare Him the Cross was unthinkable (Jn. 12:27-28, 32-33).

4. Jesus and the paralytic:

“Jesus saw their faith…” (Mt. 9:2, ESV, emphasis added), not the paralytic’s.

If someone isn’t getting better, could it be due to our unbelief? In any case, sometimes others need our supporting faith, because sorrow of heart can crush their spirits (Pro. 15:13b).

Resolution: May the Gospels spur us on to pray that God manifest His works through the afflicted, who may be too disheartened to pray for themselves.

John E. Taylor is a lifelong Presbyterian, first by birth (to missionary parents in Japan), then by conviction. He currently is a member of Coddle Creek Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Mooresville, NC. He blogs at blog.thetaylorhome.org.