What does "if you believe" in John 11:40 reveal about faith's importance? Setting the moment Jesus stands at Lazarus’s tomb. Martha is wrestling with grief and limited expectation. Into that tension He speaks: “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) “If you believe”—the hinge of the whole scene • A clear condition: belief precedes sight. • Faith is not optional ornamentation; it is the God-appointed gateway to experiencing His glory. • The phrase places responsibility on the hearer: God’s power is ready, but response is required. Faith opens the window to God’s glory • Hebrews 11:6 – “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” No faith, no fellowship, no pleasure to God. • Mark 9:23 – “All things are possible to him who believes.” Possibility is tied to believing. • Matthew 17:20 – Faith as small as a mustard seed moves mountains; the substance matters more than size. • John 20:29 – Those who have not seen yet believe are called blessed; believing leads, seeing follows. What faith accomplished at Lazarus’s tomb • Rolled away the stone despite decay (John 11:39). • Positioned the crowd to witness resurrection power. • Vindicated Jesus’ earlier declaration, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). • Turned a funeral into a testimony, leading many Jews to believe (John 11:45). How faith functions in impossible situations today • Sees beyond present facts to God’s stated promises. • Declares God’s character trustworthy when circumstances contradict. • Invites God’s intervention, not by coercion but by alignment with His will (1 John 5:14-15). • Produces steadfast hope that carries through delay, doubt, or opposition (Romans 4:18-21). Practical steps to cultivate such belief • Anchor in Scripture: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). • Recall past deliverances; memory fuels expectation (Psalm 77:11-12). • Speak agreement with God’s promises, resisting the pull toward pessimism (2 Corinthians 4:13). • Act in obedience while waiting; Martha still had to allow the stone’s removal. • Remain in prayerful dependence, knowing faith is ultimately a gift God is pleased to supply (Ephesians 2:8). Take-home truth “ If you believe ” underscores that faith is the decisive factor God honors to unveil His glory. Where belief abides, resurrection power and divine revelation follow. |
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