There is a string of internet memes flowing across social media today with a common tag line, “show me you are ________ without saying that you are ___________.” For example, show me a picture that you were a fan of the Oklahoma Sooners football team in the 1980’s without just saying you were a fan during that era … then posting a picture of you with a “Boz” haircut.
This standard meme can be applied in any number of situations, so let’s apply it to people who lived at the time of Jesus. One question you might ask first century friends of Jesus is this, “Show me you believe Jesus is God without just telling me that Jesus is God.” If you were to ask this of Martha (sister of Lazarus and Mary), she might reply with the picture of John 11:17-27 … with an emphasis on John 11:21 and 11:25-27.
In these verses, Lazarus (Martha’s brother) had died, and she is mourning his loss. While Lazarus was still sick, Martha (and her sister Mary) had sent for Jesus and asked Him to come and help, yet Jesus delayed, and arrived after Lazarus had already passed. In John 11:21, Martha says to Jesus, “If you had been here, Lazarus would not have died.” Now this is a massive statement. In it, Martha is acknowledging that Jesus had sovereign power over death and illness. Then, (in John 11:25-27) after Jesus tells her that Lazarus will be raised to new life, Martha says that she knows this will happen “on the last day.” Jesus responds that He is the One who makes salvation on the “last day” possible, and asks if Martha believes that to be true, and she nods her head in agreement. So in this meme of a scene, Martha is saying that Jesus is sovereign over illness, death, salvation, and the end of the world. Who could possibly be that powerful? Only God Himself. Martha’s actions indicate that she believes that Jesus is God.
How about you? Do your actions show that you believe Jesus is God? Do you turn to Him when things are tough, or do you look to other forms of deliverance? Who sits in the seat of authority over your understanding of “wrong and right,” is it Jesus and His Word (the Bible) or is it your ideas or the ideas of your friends? Whose “will” do you obey as the general pattern and direction of your life … your will or His?
This Christmas, I want you to think about your life. Daily ask the question … how can I show the world today that I believe Jesus is God? Martha provides a great example for us to follow, and Jesus shows Himself worthy of her trust. He will do the same for us.
The raising of Lazarus from the dead is the seventh miraculous sign John references to argue that Jesus is God.
This devo is a part of the 2022 Wildwood Christmas Daily Devotional, “God with us.” You can find the entire Christmas Devotional here.
This is such a wonderful idea to reflect on, so creative to think of the way a meme can express showing we are Christ followers without saying it
, and it reminds me of the illustration, “If I were to stand before a jury of my peers, would there be evidence to prove me GUILTY of being a Christ follower? Would I get a unanimous verdict?”
I have been so encouraged, enlightened and inspired by the daily Christmas devotions! Thank you- God has so blessed me and I pray for His blessings to be showered on you & your family!