John 11:20-21 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Reading verse 20 alone, Martha’s actions seem appropriate but it is in verse 21 that we discover her motivations. While she believes that Jesus is the Christ and had power over all manner of life and death, she accused Jesus of failing her. She did not want her brother Lazarus to die.

Mary on the other hand remained at home. This same Mary was said to have chosen the better part by sitting at the feet of Jesus and hanging on His every word. Did she know something Martha did not? We do not know from the scriptures presented. Watch what happens next.

v28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

Jesus did not call for Mary, but Martha told Mary that He did. Note that Martha did this in secret. This is the end result.

v32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Martha’s lie to Mary infected her, disturbed her mourning, changed her positional attitude, and now Mary too is accusing Jesus. Now comes the truly hard part to connect with Jesus coming soon.

v30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

Martha’s actions halted Jesus forward momentum. Why could not be seen until verse 33.

v33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.

The Jews were with Mary, not Martha, the Jews followed Mary, not Martha. This had to be played out against Martha’s accusation to be seen.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

When I surrendered to Christ I began reading the Word in the gospel of John. What little I knew about scripture said to begin with His best friend. It was of course John himself who said “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?” John 21:20

I was ignorant of many things in those days, grasping upon distant memories and vain assumptions. In truth many of us read the New Testament primarily if not exclusively. It is after all the good news and Paul’s epistles lay out the framework of the church era we live it. Since all scripture is inspired of God and profitable for doctrine, then the Old Testament too is profitable for us.

Perhaps the point of this devotional isn’t for you if you have already come to Christ. It is profitable for those who are seeking. The Old Testament is loaded with many indicators of the failings of mankind and God’s provisions for bringing them out of the darkness. My last two devotionals did just that with looking into the scriptures in Exodus 29.

Have you ever heard a bible reader complain about the Old Testament and utter words such as “I just don’t get it.” If they do not know Christ it is difficult to see Him in the Old Testament. You however know Christ and you should be able to use those scripture for doctrine that points to the coming Christ.

While we often refer to Him as the coming Christ, meaning His return for His Bride, it also should be seen as Christ is coming for the lost to draw them unto Himself and saving them from a life of sin.

You can show them that coming Christ in the OT.