Praying from Need and Desire

The events under consideration today are not unfamiliar to most. Here in John 11, we find the Savior raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus was a friend and one Jesus loved deeply. Mary and Martha are the sisters of Lazarus, and they are in mourning over their brother's illness. Upon the news, they immediately sent word to Jesus (11:3). Jesus determined to delay for a brief period before making his way to Bethany near Jerusalem (11:18). In the meantime, the illness of Lazarus had taken its course, and, as a result, he died (11:14). Upon the Savior's arrival in Bethany, he first met Martha, who emphatically declared, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Later in the narrative, Mary utters the same words. How strong their faith in Christ! As the narrative moves to its climactic end, we take note of the heart of Christ for his children. On two occasions, we read that he was deeply moved (11:33, 38), and we also read that he wept over the circumstances he was facing. The love of Christ for us has not wavered since his ascension. He still loves his people in this way. Determining to resolve the matter, he raises Lazarus from the dead because he was the only one who could. Mary and Martha were utterly insufficient to resolve the problem that grieved them.

Calvin, commenting on one of the rules of prayer, said, "in our petitions we ever sense our own insufficiency, and earnestly pondering how we need all that we seek, join with this prayer an earnest - nay, burning - desire to attain it." McKim adds, "In the story of Lazarus, he saw Mary and Martha acting this way toward Christ. They showed that the 'chief thing' is, as Calvin reminds us, "to cast our cares and whatever troubles us into the bosom of God, that he may supply the remedy. This is a perpetual rule of true prayer; for where there is God's love, there is sure and present salvation. He does not love and forsake."

Indeed, the Savior is ever-present through his Spirit. He has promised never to leave us. When we face needs of every kind, we can (and should) cry out to him. Perhaps it is an issue that seems impossible. Yet, nothing is impossible for God. Therefore, we pray out of our need and desire. We cast our cares on our Father, who stands able and ready to help us.