Aha Moments

Have you ever experienced an aha moment? The definition of an aha moment is a moment of sudden realization or inspiration that comes to your mind. For instance, my daughter recently shared an app on her smartphone that allows her to use headphones when watching TV. I am an enthusiastic TV watcher who desires to avoid distraction when a movie begins because the plot becomes lacking if I miss the first scene. So, my daughter planted a seed in my mind for an aha moment by having me download the Roku app on my Android cell phone. When I connected the app to the television and pressed the headphones button on the app, my aha moment happened. Now, I am experiencing uninterrupted sound from the tv through my wireless headphones.

When Martha met Jesus coming to pay His regards for her loss, she was not expecting such a delay in His appearance. Earlier, she messaged Jesus about Lazarus' sickness, and now four days later, Jesus shows up. Unbeknownst to her, Jesus intentionally delayed his arrival in Bethany for a more significant reason; what a perfect location for Him to demonstrate His relationship with the Father since Bethany is less than two miles from the seat of the Jewish religion. When Lazarus returned from the dead, Jesus became a target for death. This event caused fear among the religious leaders since Jesus was gaining followers. Even the High Priest, Caiaphas, advised his fellow religious leaders out of jealousy that it was okay for one to die for the people. (John 18:14)

Martha was in a hopeless situation when Jesus arrived. She pondered that if Jesus had come earlier, there would not be any mourning. The term IF is irrelevant when Jesus executes His agenda. Even the existence of time cannot hinder Jesus' plan because the raising of Lazarus set the stage for Jesus to achieve His plan to redeem the entire human race. His delay created an aha moment for Martha. Because her dialogue with Jesus allowed her to realize His relationship with the Father by stating, I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Therefore, Jesus guided the conversation toward the resurrection, and Martha recognized it as an event. Instead, Jesus wanted her to think deeper and understand it as a person. Notice how Jesus answered her.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:25,26

Jesus did not claim to possess the resurrection and life by performing a ritual or keeping the law. As an alternative, Jesus noticeably said that I am the resurrection and the life. In other words, those who believe in Him, though they die, will live, and those who live and believe in Him will never die. A different way to say this is to know Jesus is to know the resurrection and the life. To have Jesus is to have the resurrection and the life. Early, Martha placed her faith in a future resurrection, but Jesus wanted her to put her trust in a more profound revelation of Him in the present. Even today, people say they cannot wait to get to heaven because they place their faith in something that will happen in the future. But faith should allow us to live in the moment, and the same faith should allow aha moments. When Jesus said those words, Lazarus came back to life. Imagine Martha's aha moment with her new revelation about I am the resurrection and the life.

Remember, the Savior stated that I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) So, instead of relying on your understanding, find your Aha Moments while acknowledging God's sovereignty.

I am the resurrection, and the Life