2/21/22 Devotional from Ed
February 21, 2022
Devotional from Ed Black
Text: John 11:17-29
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world."
When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him.
Devotional: Did you catch the verb tenses changing at the end? I didn't the first several times. We read the following in the past tense: "went back, called, told, heard, got up, went." However, look what's in the present tense: "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."
Jesus continues to presently call each one of us. Sure, he called us yesterday and the day before, but he's also calling us now. Will we get up?
Prayer: Holy God, as we begin a new week, empower us to get up TODAY and be the disciple you call us to be. Amen.