In John 11:39, we witness a moment that encapsulates the tension between faith and fear: "Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days." This passage comes from the story of Lazarus, a beloved brother to Martha and Mary, and serves as a profound teaching about how we respond to God when faced with our most daunting challenges.

The context here is essential. Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days, a sign, in Jewish tradition, that all hope was lost. His body was decomposing, and every natural instinct in Martha told her that removing the stone was not only futile but unbearable. The stench of death wasn't just the physical evidence of decay; it represented Martha’s grief, the finality of loss, and the limitations of human understanding.

When Jesus asks for the stone to be taken away, we see Martha grappling with her reality. She speaks, not only as a mourning sister but as a woman who understood the strict boundaries of life and death. In her reply lies a deeply human sentiment that many of us have felt when God calls us to confront our fears, doubts, and losses. When we feel God prompting us to 'take away the stones' in our lives—those obstacles that keep us from experiencing His fullness—we often respond similar to Martha. We express skepticism about our circumstances, arguing that our situation is too far gone.

This skepticism is a natural instinct, rooted in our experiences and emotions. We fear exposing our wounds, our losses, our dead hopes, because they stink of disappointment and despair. How often do we hear God encouraging us to step out in faith, only to hesitate because we fear what we might uncover or realize? Yet, it is in this very moment of doubt that Jesus invites us to take a leap beyond the seen into the unseen.

By commanding Martha to remove the stone, Christ was not only preparing for the miracle of resurrection to unfold; He was also inviting Martha—and us—to participate actively in the miracle. We are called not to hide behind our stones but to address them; we must have the courage to confront what we fear most.: What if we prayed about the issues we consider "dead" in our lives? What if we brought to light the difficulties we think are beyond resurrection—relationships that have soured, dreams that have been dashed, health challenges that seem insurmountable?

The wonderful thing about this narrative is that Jesus does not rebuke Martha for her doubt. Instead, He patiently leads her toward faith. He tells her that if she believes, she will see the glory of God (John 11:40). This statement is pivotal; it reminds us that our ability to witness miracles is intricately linked to our willingness to believe, even when what we believe in defies logic.

As we reflect on our own lives, we must consider what stones we have rolled in front of our own graves. Perhaps they are stones of doubt, despair, or defeat. Jesus calls us to actively confront these barriers because it is through the act of faith that we will witness the resurrection power of Christ. Each stone removed can lead to an explosive display of God’s grace and glory. The act of taking away the stone may require vulnerability and trust, but it also opens the door to the miraculous.

Let us not allow the stench of our past or our present circumstances to deter us from pressing into the presence of God. Instead, let us call upon Him, affirming that we believe He can and will bring forth life from our dead places. Baying the stones before us can lead to encounters with the magnificent power of resurrection that our Lord holds—the promise that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

So today, let’s prayerfully consider the stones in our lives that we need to roll away. Let us approach Jesus with our worries, our doubts, our situation that seems hopeless. In doing so, we may just witness the unparalleled glory of God unfold, confirming once more that He is always able to bring life where there seems to be none.