Even now

“Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”  John 11:22

Even now –  Martha stretches just a little beyond the three days in the grave.  Even now, even after everyone else thinks it is too late, even when I can’t imagine how, even now God will give.  The Greek phrase is a little different.  It reads, “But also now” (alla kai nun).  The words are emphatic, direct, aggressive.  Martha is straining beyond her own understanding.  She is remembering the widow of Nain and the child in Jarius’ house.  “Yes, Lord, it’s true that you have arrived when all my hope seems gone, but even at this late hour, if you ask, God will give.”

And from the recesses of the heart comes the antiphonal chord – but also now.  “Even now, Lord, if you ask for me, God will give.”

The moment will come when we cannot place any more hope in ourselves, our understanding or our imagination.  We cannot even hope in our need.  We can only beg that Jesus will make a request for us because we have never stopped believing that He has God’s ear.

When we reach the end of expectation, when we are no longer able to stretch our faith to cover our sorrow, when our lives are so crushed that God has disappeared over the horizon, there is still this:  what Jesus asks, God will give.

Martha’s faith was deep.  But it was not anchored in her experience of Jesus’ actions.  It was not found in the evidence of his power.  Her faith was in who he was.  He was the one that God answered.  When everything shouted “Too late”, Martha has only this to cling to – God would answer him. 

I know the ground where Martha stood.  I know the place where it is all too late.  It is the place where all I can say is “Lord, will you ask for me?”