Faith comes before sight.
John 11:1 (1st) we see Martha's faith was limited.
Limited faith is controlled by circumstances and
motivated by fear of failure. (verse 21)
(2nd) Martha's faith was fundamental.
Jesus tells her that her brother will rise again.
She talks of resurrection at the last day.
Jesus tells her tht He is the Resurrecction and
the life. Martha stated her faith in her creed (verse 27).
It is not enough to believe in a creed only;
faith must go beyond your creed, to the living,
all powerful Christ. Her faith limited Christ
and Jesus wept (verse 35)
He wept when He came to raise Lazarus from the dead
and found limited, fundamental faith only.
(3rd) At Last, unlimited faith came to Martha when she
consented to have the stone moved from the grave.(verse 41)
When Jesus first ordered the stone taken from the grave,
Martha objected in unbelief (verse 39)
then Jesus challenging her to believe said,
"Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldst
believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God."
Martha believed and waited to see the glory of God,
and she was not disappointed.
We often hear that "seeing if believing"
but this is not so. You believe and then see.
Faith comes before sight
Now Martha's faith no longer limited the power
of Christ. She consented to have the stone moved from
the grave, and Jesus "Cried with a loud voice,
Lazarus come forth" (verse 43) and Lazarus was raised up.
Don't be satisfied with limited, fundamental faith only,
when you can have unlimited faith that pleases God
and reveals His glory.