The Immeasurable Power of God: A Reflection on Martha, Mary, and More

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21

Lazarus had died, and his sisters, Martha and Mary, were mourning his loss. How they wished Jesus had been there. Then he could have healed Lazarus, saved him from death and them from this pain of loss. But Jesus hadn’t been there, and Lazarus had died.

It wasn’t until four days after Lazarus had been buried that Jesus finally arrived. Too late by our human calculations. Each of the sisters expressed the same thought to him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21, 32). They knew Jesus was capable of healing. And if Jesus had been there, they would have asked for healing for their brother. But now Lazarus was beyond healing. He was dead. There was nothing more to ask of Jesus.

Martha added something else to her statement, though, something that makes us wonder. She said, “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

What was Martha thinking? Why did she say this? Was she hoping for more? Could she imagine more?

There seems to be a glimmer of something, some small sliver of hope that there is more, yet it also seems that Martha can’t quite imagine all that Jesus really can do. Her statement of belief in Jesus’ abilities seems tempered.

• When Jesus tells her, “Your brother will rise again,” Martha responds, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:23-24). She can’t imagine anything beyond that. She can’t imagine what Jesus is about to do.
• One more thing shows us that her belief in the more that Jesus is able to accomplish is limited by the what she is able to imagine. When Jesus tells them to take away the stone that is covering the grave, Martha’s horrified. “’But, Lord,” said Martha . . . ‘by this time there is a bad odor for he has been there four days’” (11:39). She can’t imagine there could be anything else.

Jesus didn’t do what Martha and Mary could imagine: heal Lazarus. But He could do more than they could imagine. He could do more than they could ask for. He not only could do more. He did do more. He called, “Lazarus, come out!” And Lazarus came out, alive.

Is your faith tempered by our human imagination? Do you believe He can do more than you can imagine? Can you trust Him for all He is going to do?

It may not mean a healing. It may simply mean He carries you through a sickness or a loss with that peace that passes all understanding.

It may not mean He will do what we want Him to do. But perhaps that’s because we cannot imagine all He is able to do. And we cannot know what is best for us and for those around us. But God does. So let’s trust Him and watch as He does immeasurably more.

Remember: He loves us. He wants what’s best for us. He knows what’s best for us. He is able to do what’s best for us.

Soul Refreshers for your Week

• Let your soul be refreshed this week as you meditate on these two verses and consider His great love and His great power for you.
  • “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:17-18).
  • “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
• Share with us a time when you saw God do more than you even imagined.