Arthur E. Gove
"She said to him: Yes, Lord; I believe ..." John 11:27
THE raising of Lazarus, Christ's greatest miracle, was the seventh of the sign-wonders described in his Gospel by John. The pattern of this Gospel is based on the number seven, so we are not surprised to find that in His dealing with the two sisters He is seven times addressed as "Lord". We realise, of course, that the title was often employed in gospel times as a quite ordinary, polite, form of address which could easily be rendered, 'Sir' in our language. It marked respect, but not necessarily more. We can be sure that in the case of Martha and Mary it meant much more.
In the New Testament this same word is rightly ascribed to Christ in its fullest and most spiritual meaning, namely that of Sovereign Lord. We are told, for instance, that the time will come when every creature in God's universe will attribute this excellence to Jesus: "Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11). It will be the ultimate confession of humanity, to God's glory, that Jesus Christ is the unique Sovereign Lord. Paul tells us that even now, "No-one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3), and he claims that the essence of his own preaching was just this "For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord" (2 Corinthians 4:5). We know that it was in this fullest sense that Martha exclaimed to Jesus: "Yes, Lord ...".
Martha may have her critics, but in her simple words to Jesus, she crystallised for all time what should be the heart response to the Lord Jesus of all who truly love Him. Others could call Him Lord, and yet not follow through with the implications of His lordship. Peter -- during a brief moment of inner conflict -- could even coin that incredible phrase: "No, Lord!" (Acts 10:14). The only valid response, however, to the challenges and claims of Jesus is this which was voiced so long ago at Bethany where, out of much sorrow and perplexity, Martha was given the grace to say: "Yes, Lord". Her example leads us to four areas of life in which this language was so sincerely used.
1. Yes, Lord, I believe Your claims (John 11:27)
Martha had been favoured by a Self-revelation of Christ: she was able to declare that she fully accepted that He was all that He claimed to be. His words to her were: "I am the resurrection and the life", He claimed to be the "I AM" and at the same time He said that He would share His life with those who trusted in Him: "Because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14:19).
These were the clearest claims to Deity that could possibly be. In Him there is the answer to life after death but, more than that, there is an answer to every experience of death here and now. Jesus says to us: "If you are dead, you can live through faith in Me". Our reply must be a positive, "Yes, Lord" as we appropriate His risen life. He affirms: "I am the resurrection and the life", and He waits to hear our reply: "Yes, Lord. I believe Your claims". He says to us: "If you believe in Me and live through Me, you will never be overcome by death but will live in the good of eternal life". It is for us in faith to respond, "Yes, Lord". [56/57]
John wrote that "every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God" (1 John 4:2). This must surely mean much more than simply saying that the story of Jesus Christ is a historical fact. That does not need the Holy Spirit. Secular historians accept the evidence of His life here on earth as being authentic. What it does imply is a vital relationship between Jesus -- the human name, and Christ -- the name of Deity. We are told that those who have this kind of living faith in the Lord Jesus are born of God (1 John 5:1). New birth first comes when the individual first commits himself to Christ and when, for the first time, he uses Martha's words and declares: "Yes, Lord. I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God". This is the beginning, and it is intended to introduce a life-style in the believer which means that he is constantly responding to the Scriptural presentations of the claims of Christ with a heartfelt, "Yes, Lord!"
2. Yes, Lord, I trust Your power (Matthew 9:28)
This verse comes from the story of the blind men who followed Christ, crying out and saying, "Have mercy on us thou Son of David", and then actually met Him in the house. They wanted him to give them sight, and He challenged them with this direct question: "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" It was then that they made their positive answer, "Yes, Lord".
The parallel with us is very clear. Having confessed that we accept His claim to be what He is, we are now confronted with our own personal problems, and we have to make up our minds whether the Lord is great enough to be able to handle them. Such problems, like the blindness of these two men, may call for a miracle. If Jesus really is Lord, then we must let our faith rest securely on His ability to do that miracle.
What is our problem? It may be fear -- fear of the future. It may be a threatening situation which is quite beyond us. It may be one of those deep needs or those tangled circumstances for which there seems no possible answer. Do we pray to Him as Lord and yet doubt His ability in some specific matter? While we call Him Lord, do we despair, thinking that things have gone so far that no-one can help us? In any case we are faced with a straightforward issue. Christ poses the question as to whether we believe in His absolute sufficiency and ability. Is He really Lord? In connection with this particular problem, can we disregard all the arguments of unbelief and confine ourselves to the bold venture of faith, saying "Yes, Lord"? That is what the two blind men did, and that was all that Christ needed to release His power on their behalf. Even in the most impossible circumstances, Jesus is still Lord and therefore it is only right that we should say 'Yes' to Him. 'Yes, Lord. I trust in Your power'.
3. Yes, Lord. I understand Your will (Matthew 13:51)
I am not here concerned with the extensive teachings of this chapter in Matthew's Gospel which the disciples claimed to have understood. I merely use their words to remind us that the explanation of the parables given by Christ to His disciples was accepted by them as being adequate. It is rather remarkable that they were able to say that they understood, when scores and scores of volumes have been written in attempts to throw light on those kingdom parables.
The point, surely, is not so much that they reckoned to have the fullest insight into these spiritual truths as that they humbly accepted the light given to them by Christ. He was their Lord, so they took His word for it all. In this they set us an example as to the absolute authority of God's Word. As believers we begin when we understand our need of salvation and God's provision for us in Christ. At that first step the Saviour challenged us as to our attitude to His will by asking: "Have you understood all these things?" As true disciples, we replied with the Twelve, "Yes, Lord".
Every subsequent step can only be made on the same basis. The Lord has prepared from all eternity what each one of us should be and do. "Created in Christ Jesus for good works which God afore prepared that we should walk in them " (Ephesians 2:10). This is not just a vague statement about God's fore-knowledge, but a reminder that He is working on us with specific purposes in view and continually challenges us in the light of some special matter as to the reality behind our readiness to call Him Lord. It is as though He asked: 'Do you accept what I show [57/58] to be My will for you? Are you one of those people who claim to be entitled to have your own opinion? Very well then, you may think that you are right, but please do not expect Me to endorse your ideas or to approve your actions. If I am Lord, then you must abandon your own thoughts, listen humbly and attentively to Me, and then just reply, Yes, Lord'.
The Lord does not ask for our opinions: He demands our obedience. "I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go" (Psalm 32:8) is spoken by the One whom we habitually call Lord. It may at times take much faith and grace to silence all our arguments or objections with the simple reply of agreement, but if He really is Lord, then we must always be ready to say "Yes" to Him.
4. Yes, Lord. I love You most of all (John 21:15)
Peter had denied the Lord before a fire of coals in the High Priest's courtyard; now, before another such fire by the seaside and with the smell of burning charcoal to remind him of his denial, he was challenged as to the reality of his love.
The Lord did not reproach him for his past failure. That was forgiven and forgotten, as all our sins are when once they are confessed. Jesus did not ask Peter if he were sorry, if he would promise never to deny his Friend again or if he would always remember his bad breakdown. No, three times the Lord asked him the most direct question as to whether he really loved Him. Without any hesitation, Peter was able to reply to this straight question with a straight answer: "Yes, Lord!"
The question was amplified into the larger question of the extent of Peter's love: "lovest thou me more than these?" There are several possibilities as to the meaning of Christ's words. What did He mean by "these"? Was it, these nets, these boats and these fishes? Do you love Me more than you love your business? That is a very valid question for every disciple, especially in these competitive days. Are there "things" that we love more than Him? They may be earthly things; they may even be spiritual things; but none of them should have priority in our affections. Are we busy? Are we too busy for Him? Do we love what we are doing more than we love Him? If so, then there is a serious weakness in our claim that He is our Lord. "More than these?" "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You most of all."
It is possible that Peter felt a warm love for his fellow disciples and that Jesus really asked him: "Do you love Me more than you love other people?" Again it is quite relevant for us to be challenged as to whether loved ones, people, are more dear to us than He is. Do we call Him Lord and yet pay more heed to someone else than to Him, adjusting ourselves to retain their friendship or approval rather than committing ourselves in totality of love to Him? The Lord points to all our human relationships and enquires: "Lovest thou Me more than these?" Surely this calls for a new consideration of just how real is our acceptance of His absolute lordship. For the committed Christian there can only be one answer to this challenge: "Yes, Lord. I love You most of all."
It is, of course, quite likely that what Jesus asked Peter was really: 'Do you love Me more than these others love Me? Do you outstrip all your companions in heart love for Me?' Such a question would take Peter's mind back to his earlier brash claims of devotedness even to death. Well, it was not an easy question to answer and Peter was in no mood to boast, but he could and did appeal to Christ's knowledge of his heart, and say: "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee". He would not boast that his love was superior to that of the others, but without arrogance and also without pretence he could appeal to Christ's reading of his inmost thoughts and confirm that in the matter of supreme love their reaction was "Yes Lord!"
The Lord's one comment on Peter's confession and appeal seemed to amount to His saying this: 'Yes, Peter, I know it. Now it is up to you to show it! With your life of service before you, make it always a reality that I so continue to be Lord to you that you always say "Yes" to Me.' This applies to each one of us. We need a constant renewal of the grace of God in our hearts that, however great may be the cost, our reply to His challenges to us is always "Yes, Lord!" [58/59]
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